title: Allopurinol and dimethyl sulfoxide improve treatment outcomes in smokers with peptic ulcer disease.
abstract: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study examined whether scavengers of oxygen-derived free radicals are of benefit in the treatment of acute duodenal ulceration in human beings. To this end, allopurinol (50 mg four times a day), a hydroxyl radical scavenger and an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase that forms superoxide radicals, and dimethyl sulfoxide (500 mg four times daily), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, were administered orally with cimetidine. Patients with symptomatic endoscopy-proven acute duodenal ulceration who were smokers and social drinkers were randomized to receive for 8 weeks cimetidine (400 mg two times a day), cimetidine (400 mg two times a day) with dimethyl sulfoxide, or cimetidine (400 mg two times a day) with allopurinol. These patients were then kept on their respective oral regimens (except for those who received cimetidine, for whom the dose was changed to 400 mg at bedtime) for 1 year (maintenance) and followed up for another. After 8 weeks of treatment, the ulceration healed in 69 of the patients (79%) who were given cimetidine alone and in all of the patients who were given dimethyl sulfoxide (n = 85) or allopurinol (n = 84) with cimetidine (p less than 0.01). During the maintenance year, 15 patients (29%), who were given cimetidine nightly, relapsed. Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide or allopurinol to cimetidine was associated with a significantly lower (p less than 0.001) relapse rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Salim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000493:Allopurinol; D002927:Cimetidine; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide