title: H2-receptor antagonists and antacids in the prevention of acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage in fulminant hepatic failure. Two controlled trials.
abstract: In two controlled trials, involving 75 patients, on the prevention of bleeding from gastric erosions in fulminant hepatic failure, antacids given four-hourly had no significant effect. Only 35% of intragastric pH recordings taken at two-hourly intervals in the treated group were maintained above 5 with the doses used, whereas this could be consistently achieved with the histamine H2-receptor antagonists, metiamide and cimetidine. In the group receiving these drugs only 1 patient out of 26 bled, compared with 13 (54%) of the controls, a highly significant difference. Blood-transfusion requirements were significantly less in those treated with H2-receptor antagonists.
mesh_terms: D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000517:prevention & control; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008785:Metiamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D006146:Guanidines; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D008785:Metiamide