Gastric ulcer recurrence: follow-up of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Following a multicenter, double-blind trial comparing cimetidine, antacid, and placebo for the treatment of gastric ulcer, patients whose ulcers had healed were followed prospectively to assess the frequency of ulcer relapse. Fifty-eight patients entered the follow-up study. Patients were encouraged to discontinue smoking and excessive ethanol intake, but were not maintained on antiulcer medications. Clinical evaluation was performed at monthly intervals; repeat endoscopy was performed at the time of symptom recurrence or at 6 to 9 months after ulcer healing. Gastric ulcer recurred in 20 of 58 patients (35%). While 15 (75%) with ulcer recurrence had symptoms, 5 (25%) had asymptomatic recurrences. There were no differences in the incidence of ulcer relapse or symptom recurrences between groups. We conclude that gastric ulcers recur in approximately one-third of patients within 9 months of ulcer healing.