Ranitidine compared with the dimethylprostaglandin E2 analogue enprostil as adjunct to pancreatic enzyme replacement in adult cystic fibrosis

In a double-blind cross-over randomized study adjunct therapy with ranitidine (2 x 150 mg) was compared with enprostil (2 x 35 micrograms) in eight adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients receiving a fixed dose of enteric-coated microsphere capsules of pancreatin (Pancrease). The study consisted of two consecutive 14-day treatment periods. All patients kept a fixed daily fat intake during the last 5 days of each treatment period and performed 72-h faecal collections during the last 3 days of each treatment period. Gastrointestinal complaints were scored at the end of each treatment period. During treatment with ranitidine there was less faecal fat excretion (18.9% versus 25.1%; NS), less faecal weight (263 versus 303 g/day; NS), and a lower gastrointestinal complaints score (5.3 versus 3.1; P less than 0.05) compared with the treatment with enprostil. One patient dropped out during the treatment period with enprostil because of very severe diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. We conclude from this study that adjunct therapy with ranitidine has significantly less side effects and may give a better reduction of faecal fat excretion and daily faecal weight in CF.