Rioprostil in the Acute and Long-Term Treatment of Peptic Ulcers: A Review

Abstract

The new prostaglandin E₁ analogue, rioprostil, significantly accelerates healing and the elimination of pain in cases of peptic ulcer. The anti-ulcerous potency of this prostaglandin is equivalent to that of cimetidine. In comparison with ranitidine, there is a positive trend in favour of the H₂-receptor antagonist, ranitidine, which has a more pronounced antisecretory effect than rioprostil. The differences in the healing rates during treatment with rioprostil and ranitidine are statistically significant in some cases, whereas those relating to pain alleviation are not. In contrast, the therapeutic efficacy of the two substances is almost identical in cases of Ulcus ventriculi. Rioprostil can be used with much the same success as ranitidine for preventing the recurrence of duodenal ulcers. The frequency of diarrhoea during rioprostil treatment, 300 ug b.d. and 600 ug nocte, is approximately 10%. In only about 1% of the patients does the rioprostil treatment have to be discontinued because of this adverse reaction.

Key Words:

• Acute therapy
• prevention of recurrence
• rioprostil