Yahya Ali Ghanem1, Nabil Ahmed Al-Rabeei 2
Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology1, department of Community Health Nursing 2.
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences-Sana'a University-Yemen
Introduction:
Reflux oesophagitis is characterized by heartburn and epigastric pain1,2&3 The condition is relatively common, with an estimated prevalence of 15%-20% in USA and western countries.4 In the Middle East, 10% in Egypt and more than 15% in Yemen.5 Reflux oesophagitis is typically chronic and has a high rate of recurrence, with 50%-80% of patients experience a relapse within the first 6-12 months after stopping drug treatment. Chronic reflux oesophagitis has been associated with ulceration and bleeding, and up to 20% of patients in western countries develop complications, such as esophageal stricture or Barrett's esophagus. In
the Middle East countries a smaller numberof patients develop such complications, 2%-8% in Yemen5 and 10%-15% in Egypt. Rabeprazole, substituted benzimidazol derivative, is the newest member of the PPI class and is structurally related to Omeprazole and Lansoprazole. In preclinical experiments, Rabeprazole demonstrated greater potency than Omeprazole in inhibiting H+,K+-ATPase and reducing acid output6,7,8,9&10. In vitro, rapidly than did Rabeprazole inhibited proteins pump activity more rapidly than did Omeprazole or other PPIs11. A recent study in healthy volunteers found significantly greater anti-secretion effect after the first dose of Rabeprazole
