Comparison of the healing capacities of sucralfate and cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer: a double-blind randomized trial.

Fifty-nine outpatients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were evaluated for 4-8 wk in a randomized, double-blind trial comparing sucralfate, a sulfated disaccharide, (1 g, 0.5 h before each meal and at bedtime) with cimetidine (300 mg, 0.5 h before each meal and at bedtime). Ulcer symptoms and their relief were recorded by patients in a diary, along with data on cigarette, alcohol, coffee, and drug intake. Duodenoscopy was performed after 4 wk to assess healing, and was repeated after 8 wk if healing had not occurred by the 4-wk evaluation. Twenty-four of 30 patients taking sucralfate (80.0%) and 22 of 29 patients taking cimetidine (75.9%) had their ulcer completely healed after 4 wk. The overall healing rates after 8 wk for the sucralfate and cimetidine groups were 90.0% (27 of 30 patients) and 86.2% (25 of 29 patients), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in ulcer healing, symptom relief, and side effects. Symptoms were relieved equally with respect to time and efficacy. Minor adverse experiences were reported in each treatment group. None of these experiences were serious enough to warrant discontinuation of treatment. These results suggest tha sucralfate is as effective as cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.