title: Gastric ulcer recurrence: follow-up of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Following a multicenter, double-blind trial comparing cimetidine, antacid, and placebo for the treatment of gastric ulcer, patients whose ulcers had healed were followed prospectively to assess the frequency of ulcer relapse. Fifty-eight patients entered the follow-up study. Patients were encouraged to discontinue smoking and excessive ethanol intake, but were not maintained on antiulcer medications. Clinical evaluation was performed at monthly intervals; repeat endoscopy was performed at the time of symptom recurrence or at 6 to 9 months after ulcer healing. Gastric ulcer recurred in 20 of 58 patients (35%). While 15 (75%) with ulcer recurrence had symptoms, 5 (25%) had asymptomatic recurrences. There were no differences in the incidence of ulcer relapse or symptom recurrences between groups. We conclude that gastric ulcers recur in approximately one-third of patients within 9 months of ulcer healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UCSD Medical Center, University of California.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wolosin
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gertler
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sandersfeld
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D002927:Cimetidine