Serum carbenoxolone: ulcer-healing and metabolic effects

The relationship of serum carbenoxolone to dosage, age, sex, efficacy and side-effects were studied in 92 patients. Log serum carbenoxolone was correlated with dose and with age, and was higher in women. Serum levels were not significantly different in those patients with duodenal (or gastric) ulcer whose ulcers had or had not healed after allowance was made by analysis of variance for the effects of age and sex. However, oedema and hypokalaemia were associated with higher serum levels. These results support the concept that the ulcer-healing effect of carbenoxolone is topical rather than systemic.