pH, healing rate and symptom relief in acid-related diseases.

Suppression of gastric acid secretion is widely used and logical for the treatment of acid-related diseases. Healing of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease is correlated significantly with the degree and the duration of suppression of intragastric acidity over 24 hours and with the length of the treatment. To date, proton pump inhibitors are the most effective agents among the currently available antisecretory drugs in offering the highest healing rate and fastest resolution of symptoms. Combinations of an antisecretory drug with one or more antimicrobial agents accelerate healing of peptic ulcers.