Meuwissen SGM, Klinkenberg-Knol EC. Treatment of reflux oesophagitis with HZreceptor antagonists. Scand J Gastroenterol 1988, 23(suppl 146), 201-213 The important therapeutic value of H,-receptor antagonists for the treatment of patients with reflux oesophagitis has been demonstrated beyond doubt. A large number of patients have been treated with cimetidine or ranitidine in controlled as well as open short-term studies. Mild to noderately severe reflux oesophagitis heals effectively when H2-receptor antagonists are prescribed for a sufficient time period, preferentially 12 weeks. The more severe forms of oesophagitis, however, need more profound acid suppression, with potent H,-receptor antagonists, addition of prokinetic agents, or treatment with H+/K+ATP-ase antagonists. Omeprazole has proven to be of high efficacy, particularly in the management of severe reflux oesophagitis. Data on long-term treatment with H2-receptor antagonists, to prevent recurrences after healing, are not reassuring: long-term low-dose H,-receptor antagonist therapy is not effective, and trials should be undertaken with higher doses of H,-receptor antagonists, more potent antagonists, or with combinations of antagonists and prokinetics. In these studies, 24-h intraoesophageal and intragastric pH measurements should be incorporated, to detect more accurately time periods of nonsuppressed acid secretion. Such studies will undoubtedly better define the therapeutic place of the presently available and forthcoming H,-receptor antagonists.