[Omeprazole in peptic ulceration: acid inhibition and endoscopic healing]

Basal and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretions were measured in 20 patients with duodenal ulcer before and after one week of treatment with oral omeprazole 20 mg daily. Omeprazole markedly inhibited gastric acid secretion in all the patients. The mean basal intragastric pH rose from 1.6 to 6.3, and the BAO and MAO were reduced by 86.9% and 83.9% respectively on day 7 of the study. We also conducted a clinical trial in 63 duodenal and 12 gastric ulcer patients. Each patient received 20 mg omeprazole. 98% of the patients were free of pain within first week of the treatment. After 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the healing rates of duodenal ulcer were 81.3%, 96.8% and 100% respectively, and those of gastric ulcer were 50%, 91.7% and 100% respectively. The drug was well tolerated and no side effect was observed.