title: Duodenal ulcer treated with omeprazole: healing and relapse rates. Does treatment duration influence subsequent remission?
abstract: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were studied with regard to healing of duodenal ulcers with 30 mg omeprazole once daily, recurrence rates after 2 and 4 weeks' treatment in patients with ulcers healed after 2 weeks, and recurrences in rapid and slow healers. Cumulative healing rates were 77% and 98% after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Eighty-one patients (65%) were without ulcer symptoms after 2 weeks, and 43 (34%) were improved. Seven of 45 patients (16%; 95% confidence limits, 6-30%) with ulcers healed after 2 weeks had relapsed after another 2 weeks of placebo; 3 were asymptomatic. The overall relapse rate after 6 months was 62%. There were no statistically significant differences in relapse rates between 2 and 4 weeks' treatment of patients with ulcers healed after 2 weeks or between rapid and slow healers. Ulcer size, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption were not significantly related to healing or relapse.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine, Gjøvik County Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Farup
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rosseland
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernklev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009853:Omeprazole