Ebrotidine : A viewpoint. Commentary's

. Ebrotidine is the first of a new generation of H 2 receptor antagonists with gastroprotective activity . It stimulates epithelial cell proliferative activity and produces beneficial physicochemical changes in the gastric mucus that contribute to its gastroprotective action against ethanol-, aspirin- or stress-induced gastric mucosal damage . The antisecretory properties of ebrotidine are similar to those of ranitidine and 10-fold greater than those of cimetidine . This drug exhibits anti-Helicobacter pylori activity that is synergistic with a number of antibacterial agents ; it inhibits the urease enzyme and the proteolytic and mucolytic activities of H. pylori, and counteracts the inhibitory effects of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide . Ebrotidine is as effective as ranitidine for the treatment of patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers or erosive reflux oesophagitis . Ebrotidine therapy results in significantly better ulcer healing rates than ranitidine treatment in patients who smoke.