[Recurrence of duodenal ulcer after therapy with Sucralfat or cimetidine]

Relapse rates of duodenal ulcer after treatment with sucralfate or cimetidine were investigated in a one-year follow-up study. During this period 23 out of 27 patients (85.1%) initially treated with sucralfate relapsed, in comparison with 17 out of 21 patients (80.9%) after cimetidine therapy. Recurrence after cimetidine was more often asymptomatic than after sucralfate. These results suggest that recurrence rates of duodenal ulcer are not essentially influenced by the mode of action of the initially used drug. Cytoprotection by sucralfate did not result in fewer or later relapses than reduction of acidity by cimetidine.