Therapeutic effects of lansoprazole on peptic ulcers in elderly patients

We studied the effects of lansoprazole on ulcer healing and Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly patients with peptic ulcers. In a group of 24 patients with gastric ulcers, the H. pylori infection rate was 100%. In the course of gastric ulcer healing with famotidine or lansoprazole alone, the H. pylori infection showed no signs of decline. The ulcer healing rates after 8 weeks were similar between the H2-receptor antagonist famotidine (73%), and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole (82%). When eradication of H. pylori infection was attempted by concomitant administration of lansoprazole and amoxicillin 500 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks, the eradication rate was 33% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg q.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d., whereas it was 77% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d. Lansoprazole is considered to be a useful agent for the treatment of patients with peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection and its effectiveness in H. pylori eradication is improved by b.i.d. administration along with ampicillin.