부산대학교 도서관

During swallowing, a wave of muscular relaxation and contraction (peristalsis) propels ingested substances toward the junction of the esophagus and stomach (gastroesophageal junction), where a transient relaxation of the gastroesophageal sphincter muscle permits the material to enter the stomach, which relaxes to accommodate the increased volume. Closure of the sphincter prevents reflux of the highly acidic gastric contents back into the esophagus, where it could cause the inflammatory condition known as reflux esophagitis. One form of drug treatment for reflux esophagitis involves the administration of drugs that suppress gastric acid secretion. Treatment with histamine H2 receptor blockers, which are quite effective in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers caused by excessive gastric acidity, is not very effective in cases of gastroesophageal reflux. Omeprazole, a drug that suppresses gastric acidity by interfering with a key step in the secretion of acid from gastric cells, was compared with cimetidine (a histamine H2 blocker) in 67 patients who were randomly assigned to receive the recommended dosages of either cimetidine or omeprazole for an eight-week period. Patients were assessed at four and eight week intervals after they began treatment. Omeprazole administered once daily produced more rapid and profound relief of symptoms, healing, and reduction of esophageal acid exposure than did cimetidine administered four times daily. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)