As many as 89% of
gastric ulcer patients experience
ulcer recurrences within 1 year of successful healing with conventional antiulcer
therapies. Because
ranitidine is effective in the healing of gastric and
duodenal ulcers and the maintenance of healed
duodenal ulcers, we hypothesized that
ranitidine would also be effective in the maintenance of healed
gastric ulcers. A 48-week, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial was conducted to compare
ranitidine 150 mg administered at bedtime with placebo for the maintenance of healed
gastric ulcers. Endoscopies were performed at baseline and repeated after 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks of treatment.
Gastric ulcer recurrence rates at each scheduled endoscopy were significantly lower in patients receiving
ranitidine (5%, 13%, 16%, and 19%, respectively) compared with those receiving placebo (20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, respectively). Compared with placebo,
ranitidine was more effective in maintaining healed
gastric ulcers regardless of previous
gastric ulcer history, smoking status, age (< 65 vs > or = 65 years), or sex. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the number of patients experiencing adverse events or laboratory abnormalities.
Ranitidine 150 mg administered at bedtime provides safe and effective treatment for the maintenance of healed
gastric ulcers.