[Recurrence of chronic duodenal ulcer following initial therapy with pirenzepine or cimetidine]

Recurrence rates of chronic duodenal ulcer after initial therapy with pirenzepine or cimetidine were investigated in a prospective, randomized trial with a total of 80 patients. After 12 weeks of therapy with pirenzepine (50 mg b.i.d) or cimetidine (200 mg t.i.d. + 400 mg nocte) 68,7% and 88,5% respectively were healed (chi 2 = 3,97; p less than 0,05). These patients showed recurrences in 73,6% after pirenzepine and in 84,6% after cimetidine during a six months observation period. This difference is not statistically significant, nor was life table analysis capable to show any difference in the relapse pattern between the two groups.