Gastroprotective and antisecretory effects of ebrotidine

This study was designed to assess the gastroprotective and secretory effects of ebrotidine, a novel H2-receptor antagonist, in humans. Two groups (A and B) of male subjects with normal gastric mucosa were used. Group A (six subjects) was treated for 3 days with either ebrotidine or placebo in a randomized, crossover study, and on the 4th day 100 ml of 50% ethanol was sprayed on the mucosa via an endoscope. Pretreatment with ebrotidine significantly reduced the endoscopic score of mucosal damage and deep hemorrhagic lesions caused by ethanol as compared with those in placebo-treated subjects. In group B (six subjects) the 24-h pH-metry was assessed with an intraluminal pH electrode placed in the gastric corpus and connected to portable recording apparatus. A single oral dose of ebrotidine (800 mg) caused a significant reduction in circadian acidity and resulted in a marked and significant inhibition of acid secretion for about 6 h on administration. We conclude that ebrotidine is highly effective as a gastroprotective agent, and as an H2-receptor antagonist shows a potent inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion in humans.