Are proton pump inhibitors really superior to famotidine in Japanese ulcer patients?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of famotidine in Japanese patients with peptic ulcers; it was analyzed the pooled data from previously conducted clinical trials in Japan. METHODOLOGY: In the present study was performed a meta-analysis of controlled trials of famotidine and proton pump inhibitors executed between 1985 to 2005. The patients included in this study were Japanese adults (> or = 19 years old) diagnosed with gastrointestinal ulcers, treated for an on-label indication at doses approved in Japan, and whose treatment outcomes were clearly shown. It was searched the JMEDPlus database for relevant data. Data were synthesized and the results expressed as relative risk (RR). RESULTS: Of the nine articles analyzed with a total of 1,771 patients, 879 received famotidine, and 892 received proton pump inhibitors. For duodenal ulcer and the hemostatic effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract, there were no significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.064, p = 0.066, respectively), although proton pump inhibitors showed a significantly greater efficacy compared to famotidine for gastric ulcers (RR: 0.86 [95% CI: 0.78-0.93], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese patients, there were no significant differences for duodenal ulcer and hemostatic effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract between famotidine and proton pump inhibitors.