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Published on: June 18, 2020

Controlled trial of cimetidine in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

S J La Brooy, J J Misiewicz, J Edwards

    Gut
    |October 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Oral cimetidine did not significantly prevent acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding recurrence in a double-blind trial. This study assessed cimetidine

    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Clinical Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a significant clinical concern, often stemming from peptic ulcers.
    • Effective preventative strategies for bleeding continuation or recurrence are crucial for patient outcomes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the efficacy of oral cimetidine in preventing the continuation or recurrence of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
    • To assess the role of cimetidine in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and other upper GI sources.

    Main Methods:

    • A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 101 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
    • Patients received either oral cimetidine (800 mg loading dose, then 400 mg six-hourly) or a placebo.
    • Endoscopic evaluation was used to identify the source of bleeding in 96% of participants.

    Main Results:

    • Bleeding continued or recurred in 21.5% of patients receiving cimetidine versus 24% receiving placebo.
    • Peptic ulcer was the primary source of bleeding, identified in 70% of cases.
    • No statistically significant advantage of cimetidine was observed when analyzed by patient age or bleeding severity.

    Conclusions:

    • Oral cimetidine demonstrated no significant benefit in preventing the continuation or recurrence of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in this study population.
    • Further research may be needed to explore alternative or adjunctive therapies for managing upper GI bleeding.

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