Treatment of duodenal ulcers with cimetidine.

A total of 55 patients were treated with the histamine H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (Tagamet: SKF) in an endoscopically controlled double-blind trial. Cimetide (200 or 300 mg every 6 hours) was administered to 36 patients, and placebo to 19 patients. Only patients who had been confirmed by endoscopy as having uncomplicated duodenal ulcers were admitted to the trial. Drug or placebo was administered in a randomized double-blind fashion for 6 weeks. Patients underwent clinical examination at weekly intervals. Haematological assessment was made weekly for 7 weeks, and biochemical variables were measured once a week or once every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. Endoscopy was repeated at 6 weeks unless the patient had to be excluded from the trial because of incessant pain after 14 days. No antacid or other treatment was allowed. Seventy-eight per cent of the patients became free of symptoms when treated with cimetidine, and 47% when treated with placebo (chi2 = 5,2235; P less than 0,025 in favour of cimetidine). Endoscopic evidence of healing revealed an improvement of 69,5% in those treated with cimetidine and one of 42% in those treated with placebo (chi2 = 3,8731; P less than 0,05 in favour of cimetidine). No haematological or biochemical changes were noted. It is concluded that the histamine H2-receptor antagonists have a definite place in the treatment of duodenal ulceration.