Indomethacin-induced gastroduodenal damage is not affected by cotreatment with ranitidine

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to determine whether concomitant administration of ranitidine reduces gastroduodenal mucosal damage associated with 1 week of indomethacin treatment. One hundred ten subjects with acute musculoskeletal conditions and who received indomethacin 150 mg/day completed the trial: 55 were treated with ranitidine 150 mg b.i.d. and 51 subjects received placebo b.i.d. Endoscopic gastric and duodenal injury were assessed before and after one week of treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of patients with gastroduodenal damage or in the severity of the lesions in both treatment groups. Ranitidine did not ameliorate indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal symptoms and there was no correlation between upper gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings.