[Effective treatment of duodenal ulcer with cimetidine (author's transl)]

Twelve male duodenal ulcer in-patients received in a double-blind trial either the histamine H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (4 X 200 mg/d p.o.) or placebo capsules. Ulcer sizes were assessed endoscopically before therapy followed by repeat endoscopy at weekly intervals. Duodenal ulcer healing was significantly more rapid in cimetidine-treated patients than in those receiving the placebo (chi2 test; P less than 0.0005). Plotting of log ulcer sizes (mm2) against time (days) resulted in regression lines the slopes of which indicated the respective half-time of ulcer healing: about 6 days on cimetidine therapy and about 20 days on placebo treatment. Gastric secretion of acid, protein, pepsin, and N-acetylneuraminic acid-containing glycoproteins was not altered by a 4-week course of daily cimetidine or placebo, nor pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate and enzymes. No statistically significant changes in laboratory findings (haemoglobin, white blood-cells, neutrophils, platelets, alkaline phosphatase, blood-urea, serum-creatinine, GOT, GPT) were associated with treatment.