Double blind comparison between cimetidine and gefarnate in cases of duodenal ulcer

Thirty outpatients suffering from duodenal ulcer of recent onset were given cimetidine 1 g/day or gefarnate 250 mg/day for 6 weeks in a double blind trial, randomly balances between the groups. Endoscopic assessment was carried out at 4 and 6 weeks; patients healed after 4 weeks were withdrawn from the trial. In all parameters considered, cimetidine showed a highly significant difference. The healing rate at 4--6 weeks was 67--93% after cimetidine treatment and 27--53% after gefarnate treatment. The effect of cimetidine on the disappearance of symptoms, mainly the nocturnal ulcer pain, and on antacid consumption was greater than that after medication wity gefarnate. After 4--6 weeks of a full dose cimetidine regimen, both basal and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion were reduced and peptone meal stimulated serum gastrin increased; the basal gastrinaemia remained unchanged.