Clinical efficacy of sucralfate in reflux oesophagitis

Sucralfate has been evaluated in reflux esophagitis. The rationale for its effectiveness is based on its protective adherence to denuded mucosal surfaces and its bile salt binding properties. According to Weiss et al (5), healing occurred in 72% and improvement in 14% of sucralfate treated patients, compared respectively to 40% and 20% receiving placebo (p less than 0.05). According to Laitinen et al (6) esophagitis healed in 53% of patients receiving sucralfate, against 34% of an alginate/antacid-treated group. Symptoms disappeared, or improved in almost 70% of both groups. Hameeteman et al (7) found improvement of esophagitis in 53% and healing in 31% after sucralfate, compared with 67% and 14% respectively after cimetidine. Symptomatic improvement was good and comparable in both groups. Simon et al (8) found endoscopic healing in 64% and improvement in 27% of sucralfate-healed patients, compared with 68% and 21% respectively after ranitidine. Symptom relief and antacid consumption was comparable in both groups. Sucralfate appears to be a safe and efficacious locally active mucosal protecting agent for the treatment of reflux esophagitis. Its efficacy is comparable to that of H2-receptor blockers.