Omeprazole in treating reflux esophagitis in aged

AIM:To study the efficacy of omeprazole for therapy of reflux esophagitis in aged. METHODS:Forty-five patients(M41,F4,age 75 ± 5 a) with reflux esophagitis(SavaryMiller,grade Ⅰ, 7 cases; grade Ⅱ,31 cases;grade Ⅲ, 6 cases;grade Ⅳ,1 case) were treated with omeprazole 20 mg po,qd,for 8 wk.RESULTS:After 8 wk the clinical total effective rate was 100 %. The endoscopic healing rate was 93%.The incidence of pulmonary complication of reflux esophagitis was significantly reduced than before treatment(44 % vs 4 % ,P 0. 01).Forty-three cases of healing patients were stopped omeprazole treatment,their cumulative recurrent rates at 2,6, 12 mo were 60%, 81% and 91%,respectively. Four patients(gradeⅠ) had not recurred only. The 39 recurrent patients were treated with omeprazole of 20 mg qd again. After symptom remitting, the lower doses of omeprazole for maintaining treatment that suppresses symptom were 20 mg qd in 15 patients, 20 mg every other day in 19 patients and 20 mg each 3days in 5 patients. After maintaining treatment 3-12 mo, continually symptomatic remittent rates were 100%, 89%,and 60%, respectively. The adverse reactions of omeprazole were slight.CONCLUSION :The results showed that efficacy of omeprazole in short term and maintaining treatment for elderly reflux esophagitis is satisfactory,but recurrent rates is very high after stopping treatment.Therefore maintaining treatment is unsuitable with lower dose.