Cimetidine use and gastric cancer.
We conducted a case-control study at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound to investigate the relation between long-term cimetidine use and gastric cancer. Five of 99 cases of gastric cancer were exposed to cimetidine at least two years before diagnosis, whereas nine of 365 controls (selected from among users of the Group Health Cooperative pharmacy, matched on age, sex, and first year of pharmacy use) were similarly exposed. The odds ratio comparing users with nonusers was 2.3 (95% CI = 0.8-6.9). The odds ratio comparing users of antacids with nonusers was similar, 1.9 (95% CI = 1.0-3.7). Although a causal relation between gastric cancer and cimetidine is possible, the similarity of the findings for cimetidine and antacids lends support to other explanations.
Schumacher
M C
MC
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
Jick
S S
SS
Jick
H
H
Feld
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AD
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000863:Antacids / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014861:Washington
D000863:Antacids; D002927:Cimetidine