Swedish multicenter study on prepyloric and gastric ulcer

A double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was performed to compare the effects of sucralfate and cimetidine for the short-term treatment of gastric and prepyloric ulcers. Ulcer healing was evaluated endoscopically at 4-week intervals up to 8 weeks in the PPU study and up to 12 weeks in the GU study. A total of 142 PPU and 134 GU patients completed the study. The overall healing rates after 8 weeks in the PPU study were 83% for the sucralfate group and 90% for the cimetidine group (NS), while the cumulative healing rates after 12 weeks in the GU study were 98% for the sucralfate group and 94% for the cimetidine group (NS). The confidence interval means that the 95% confidence limit ranges from 11% in favour of sucralfate to 2% in favour of cimetidine in the GU study and corresponding figures of 4% 19% in the PPU study. There were significantly more patients in the cimetidine group taking antacid tablets after 3 weeks in the GU study. Symptomatic relief did not differ significantly. Reported side effects and symptoms, pooled together with our duodenal ulcer study, were mostly non-specific and in some part related to the ulcer disease. In conclusion, sucralfate and cimetidine are both excellent healing agents for the short-term treatment of PPU and GU. Both give rapid and good symptomatic relief with no side effects of any importance.