title: Long-term maintenance treatment of gastric ulcers with ranitidine.
abstract: One hundred and twenty patients with gastric ulcer disease, who had been receiving maintenance treatment with ranitidine (150 or 300 mg/day) for periods up to 7 years, were studied retrospectively. The proportion of patients remaining free from symptomatic recurrence of ulcer during maintenance treatment was 97% after 1 year; 90% after 3 years; and 79% after 5 years. No patient developed haemorrhage or perforation during maintenance treatment. None of the demographic features was shown to be associated with a significantly increased risk of ulcer recurrence during maintenance treatment. Comparison of the recurrence rates during maintenance treatment with those during periods without active anti-ulcer therapy, using life table and incidence density analysis, showed a significant difference in favour of maintenance treatment. We conclude that maintenance treatment with ranitidine for 5 years significantly reduces the risk of symptomatic ulcer recurrence in patients with gastric ulcer.
authors.affiliation: Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Penston
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wormsley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D011899:Ranitidine