Ranitidine: a pilot study in Japan

Twenty-four patients with gastric ulcer and 18 with duodenal ulcer diagnosed by endoscopy were treated with ranitidine, 300 mg day-1, for 8 consecutive weeks, or until the ulcer was found endoscopically healed. Of the 24 with gastric ulcer, 50% were healed within 4 weeks, and 83% within 8 weeks. Of 18 cases with duodenal ulcer, 50% were healed within 2 weeks and 94% within 4 weeks. Therapeutic effect of ranitidine was statistically significant compared with placebo. Side effects due to ranitidine administration were few and consisted of a rash in one case and slight increase of transaminase in a few patients.