CIMETIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS - RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 77  (4) , 687-690
Abstract
A double-blind study was made of the comparative effectiveness of cimetidine in the treatment of acute alcoholic pancreatitis. The study group was composed of 27 patients with acute episodes of alcoholic pancreatitis of mild to moderate severity. The patients were randomized into 2 groups, receiving cimetidine 300 mg 4 times daily or a placebo. Both groups were given i.v. fluids and meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) as needed. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups as measured by a variety of clinical and laboratory parameters. The mean value of the daily serum amylase in the placebo group declined steadily to normal, hyperamylasemia in this group persisted for 52 .+-. 11 h (mean .+-. SE). Serum amylase in the cimetidine group peaked at 24 h after the start of treatment and remained abnormal slightly longer, the duration of hyperamylasemia in the group was 69 .+-. 10 h. Apparently cimetidine is not superior to a placebo in the management of mild to moderately severe acute alcoholic pancreatitis and serum amylase activity in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis given cimetidine tends to be greater and hyperamylasemia is of longer duration than in those treated with a placebo.

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