[Prevention of duodenal ulcer recurrence with cimetidine (author's transl)].

The effect of long-term prophylaxis of duodenal ulceration with cimetidine was tested in a double blind trial. In 20 patients treated with cimetidine there was a four-fold reduction in the relapse rate when compared with 18 placebo-treated patients. However, treatment of the acute phase of ulceration with cimetidine increased the recurrence rate more than five-fold when compared with placebo treatment. Slow healing of ulceration was followed by a two-fold incidence of recurrence when compared with rapid healing. From the results it is concluded that recurrence occurs in patients after slow healing and (or) previous cimetidine treatment if long-term prophylaxis with cimetidine is not carried out.