[Long-term maintenance therapy in duodenal ulcer. Efficacy and safety]

The efficacy and safety of continuous (maintenance) treatment with ranitidine has been studied retrospectively in 388 patients with duodenal ulcer. The cumulative rate of symptomatic relapse was 16% after 5 years. Very few of the patients developed ulcer complications during maintenance treatment, with a cumulative risk of haemorrhage of 1.8% during 5 years. The patients developed no drug-related disease. We conclude that long-term, continuous treatment with ranitidine is effective in maintaining remission of duodenal ulcers, protects the patients against the risk of complications, and is safe.