Long term omeprazole therapy for reflux esophagitis:follow-up in serum gastrin levels,EC cell hyperplasia and neoplasia.

AIM:To evaluate the long-term safety of omeprazole in patients of gastroesophageal reflux disease resistant to treatment with H2 receptor antagonist.METHODS:We prospectively followed 33 patients on omeprazole therapy for severe erosive esophagitis for 5-8 years, with periodic gastrin levels, H. pyloriinfection, gastric biopsies for incidence of ECL cell hyperplasia, carcinoids, gastric atrophy and neoplasia.