Gastric ulcer healing with tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate and subsequent relapse.

Fifty patients with endoscopically proven gastric ulcers completed a one month double-blind randomised trial of tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate (TBD) (DeNol) compared with an identical placebo. Ulcer healing occurred in 18 (72%) of the 25 patients given TDB and in nine (36%) of the patients given placebo. The TDB group experienced significantly less pain than the placebo group. During a follow-up of 29 patients with healed ulcers for up to 44 months, relapse occurred in 13 (45%). It was highest in the first three months (27%) and had risen to 41% at two years.