A comparative therapeutic trial of sucralfate and ranitidine in initial healing and relapse rate of duodenal ulcer.

The present study was carried out to examine the comparative efficacy of sucralfate and ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Sixty-six patients with endoscopically diagnosed duodenal ulcer were studied in a 4-6 weeks randomised, single blind trial comparing sucralfate 1 gm T.D.S. one hour before meal and 1 gm nocte (34 pts) with ranitidine 300 mg nocte (32 pts). Six patients (four on sucralfate and 2 on ranitidine) failed to complete the study. Endoscopy after four weeks of treatment showed an ulcer healing rate of 57% in the sucralfate group compared with 73% in ranitidine group (p greater than 0.1). At six weeks these figures had risen to 87% and 90% respectively (p less than 0.5). After one year followup study 69% of sucralfate treated ulcers relapsed whereas the relapse rate was 82% in ranitidine treated ulcer group (p less than 0.1). It was observed that the relapse was earlier in the ranitidine group as compared to sucralfate group (p less than 0.01 at 3 months and p less than 0.05 at 6 months). Asymptomatic recurrence was seen in 15% (6/40) patients. Sucralfate was not only as effective as ranitidine in short term healing of duod. ulcer but also delayed the relapse of ulcer in long term followup after initial healing with the drug.