Factors affecting quality of ulcer healing after lansoprazole treatment

To evaluate endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the quality of ulcer healing produced by proton pump inhibitors, gastric acid pH, serum gastrin, and serum pepsinogen (PG) I and II were measured in peptic ulcer patients before and after treatment with lansoprazole 30 mg once daily. Lansoprazole achieved more rapid scarring in duodenal ulcer (n = 34), with a healing rate of 97.1% after 6 weeks, than in gastric ulcer (n = 56), with a healing rate of 92.8% after 8 weeks. Scarring was the most rapid in gastroduodenal ulcer (n = 8), with a healing rate of 100% after 8 weeks, but the rate of complete scarring was the lowest (37.5%). Lower gastric acidity and lower PG I:II ratio were associated with poor quality ulcer scarring in patients with gastric ulcers, but the opposite was true for those with duodenal and gastroduodenal ulcers. For gastric ulcers, not only ulcer size but also mucosal atrophy was an important factor in ulcer healing. Smoking and alcohol consumption had little effect on the quality of ulcer healing during treatment. These results suggest that there are a number of differences between gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers in terms of the quality of ulcer healing after lansoprazole treatment.