Clinical indications and efficacy of colloidal bismuth subcitrate

Colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS; DeNol) has been studied in clinical trials investigating the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcer, non-ulcer dyspepsia, duodenitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced disease, and Helicobacter pylori-induced gastroduodenitis. Healing rates for duodenal ulcer with CBS are significantly better than with placebo and are similar to results obtained with cimetidine or ranitidine. CBS is significantly better in the treatment of duodenal ulcer resistant to standard doses of H2 antagonists than increased doses of H2 antagonists. Duodenal ulcer relapse at 12 months after initial healing with CBS is significantly less than with H2-antagonist therapy. Ulcer healing with CBS is not influenced by smoking. H. pylori eradication with CBS appears to have little effect in ulcer healing but is of major importance in preventing ulcer relapse. CBS is effective in combination with antibiotics in eradicating H. pylori-associated gastritis. In gastric ulcer disease CBS therapy resulted in significant healing advantages over placebo and was comparable to treatment with cimetidine and sucralfate. CBS has been shown to be effective in the treatment of erosive duodenitis. The role of CBS in treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia and NSAID-induced damage awaits further clinical studies.