Controlled comparison of sucralfate and cimetidine in duodenal ulcer

Seventy-two outpatients with endoscopically diagnosed duodenal ulcer were studied in a 4-6 week randomised, single-blind trial comparing sucralfate (1 g tds 2 h after each meal and 1 g nocte) with cimetidine (200 mg tds and 400 mg nocte). Endoscopy was performed after 4 weeks and was repeated at 6 weeks if healing was not achieved at 4 weeks. Ulcer pain and antacid consumption were recorded in a diary by patients. Twenty-three of 35 (65.7%) sucralfate-treated patients and 27 of 37 (73.0%) cimetidine-treated patients had complete ulcer healing after 4 weeks. The overall healing rates after 6 weeks for the sucralfate and cimetidine groups were 91.4% (32 of 35 patients) and 83.8% (31 of 37 patients), respectively. Neither difference was statistically significant. Pain relief and antacid consumption were similar in both groups. Nausea was reported by 4 patients in the sucralfate group and two requested withdrawal because of this complaint. Hematological and biochemical parameters were not affected by treatment with either sucralfate or cimetidine. We conclude that sucralfate is safe and as effective as cimetidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.