Background: Antacids, such as aluminiumâmagnesium hydroxide (AlMg(OH)3), or H2âreceptor antagonists, such as ranitidine, are common drugs used for treating peptic ulcer disease and acidârelated symptoms.
Methods: In a prospective doubleâblind controlled study, 174 patients were randomized to a 4âweek course of treatment with either AlMg(OH)3 (acidâbinding capacity: 280âmval/day) or ranitidine 300âmg for active Helicobacter pyloriâassociated duodenal ulcers (as determined by histology and the urease test). Before and after treatment, two biopsy specimens each were obtained from the antrum and corpus, and the grade and activity of gastritis, as well as H. pylori density, were determined using a score ranging from 0â=ânone to 4â=âsevere.
Results: Preâ and postâtreatment histology were available for 138 patients (AlMg(OH)3: 67, ranitidine: 71). Treatment with AlMg(OH)3 significantly increased the activity of corpus gastritis (Wilcoxon signedârank: Pâ=â0.0014), while ranitidine treatment significantly increased both the grade and activity of corpus gastritis (Pâ=â0.0002 and Pâ=â0.0001 respectively). In the antrum, both regimens provoked a significant increase in the frequency of intestinal metaplasia, but this may be a consequence of sampling error.
Conclusions: Ranitidine and AlMg(OH)3 have an aggravating effect on H. pylori gastritis in duodenal ulcer patients. This should be considered a sideâeffect of the respective drugs and is more pronounced with ranitidine.