Pantoprazole rapidly improves health-related quality of life in patients with heartburn: a prospective, randomized, double blind comparative study with nizatidine.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in untreated patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In the absence of an objective marker such as erosions, assessment of treatment efficacy can be based on symptoms and HRQoL.

Objective: To evaluate changes in HRQoL during treatment with pantoprazole or nizatidine in patients with GERD.

Validation of the GSFQ, a self-administered symptom frequency questionnaire for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Although the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is based primarily on symptoms experienced by a patient, relatively little attention has been paid to the development and validation of self-administered questionnaires specific to GERD symptoms. The present article presents the validation of the short, self-administered GERD Symptom Frequency Questionnaire (GSFQ).

Methods: Patients with GERD participating in a randomized clinical trial comparing pantoprazole and nizatidine were asked to complete the GSFQ together with validated instruments for measurement of health-related quality of life (Medical Outcome Study Short Form 12) and gastrointestinal symptoms (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale).

Early relief of upper gastrointestinal dyspeptic symptoms: a survey of empirical therapy with pantoprazole in Canadian clinical practice.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal symptoms attributable to gastroesophageal reflux disease or peptic ulcer are common, but the outcome of proton pump inhibitor therapy in clinical practice is not well documented.

Aim: To assess the range of upper gastrointestinal acid-related symptoms in clinical practice and the rapidity of their response to pantoprazole (40 mg daily), after seven days of therapy.

Methods: A total of 726 Canadian physicians (65.