RANITIDINE HEALS DUODENAL-ULCERS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (5) , 152-154
Abstract
A double-blind placebo-controlled study of ranitidine 150 mg given twice daily for 4 wk was carried out in 80 ambulant patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulceration. Fifteen patients were withdrawn because of poor compliance or default. Of the remaining 65 patients, endoscopic healing (with or without residual erosion) was noted in 28 of the 34 ranitidine-treated patients (82%) and in 14 of the 31 placebo-treated patients (45%) (P < 0.005). Twenty-three patients whose ulcers were unhealed after 4 wk of ranitidine therapy or placebo were then given ranitidine for another 4 wk. Of these patients, 4 were withdrawn, but ulcer healing was achieved in 16 of the remaining 19 patients (4 of 5 (80%) initially treated with ranitidine and 12 of 14 (86%) initially treated with placebo). No significant clinical, biochemical or hematological adverse reactions were noted in either treatment group. Evidently ranitidine is a safe and effective therapy in patients with duodenal ulceration and initial unsuccessful treatment with placebo does not appear to influence the subsequent response to ranitidine.