title: Comparison of twice-daily ranitidine and placebo in the treatment of duodenal ulcer--a multicentre study in the United Kingdom.
abstract: Treatment of duodenal ulcer with the H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine, 150 mg twice daily has been assessed in a double-blind, placebo controlled study at seven centres in the United Kingdom. One hundred-and-twenty-nine patients entered the trial with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer. Five patients did not comply with the protocol and were excluded from the analysis. Nine patients (1 ranitidine, 8 placebo) did not complete the initial 4 weeks' treatment due to poor symptomatic response; one hundred-and-fifteen (58 ranitidine, 57 placebo) were endoscopically assessed after 4 weeks. The average 4-week healing rate among patients on ranitidine (83%) was significantly greater than that for the placebo group (32%, p less than 0.01). Forty-four patients whose ulcers had not healed received further treatment with ranitidine 150 mg b.d. on an open basis. After a total of up to 8 weeks' active treatment only three patients had not healed. Ulcer symptoms resolved or improved in a greater proportion of patients on ranitidine, and this was associated with a significantly lower antacid consumption. There was no serious unwanted effect associated with ranitidine treatment, and the twice daily dose of 150 mg is apparently a safe and effective short-term treatment for duodenal ulceration.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011899:Ranitidine; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D005663:Furans; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D011899:Ranitidine