Effect of carbenoxolone and cimetidine on gastric mucin

To determine whether the addition of carbenoxolone to a cimetidine regimen would prevent mucus deficiency in patients with duodenal ulcer, we compared the effect of combined therapy with the effects of treatment with cimetidine alone and carbenoxolone alone. Carbenoxolone proved to be ineffective on gastric mucus induced by cimetidine, the behavior of gastric mucin fractions being similar to that observed in patients treated with cimetidine alone. When used alone, however, carbenoxolone demonstrated mucus-stimulating action.