Efficacy and safety of long-term maintenance therapy of duodenal ulcers.

The efficacy and safety of continuous (maintenance) treatment with ranitidine has been studied retrospectively in 388 patients with duodenal ulcer. The cumulative rate of symptomatic relapse was 16% after 5 years. Very few of the patients developed ulcer complications during maintenance treatment, with a cumulative risk of haemorrhage of 1.8% during 5 years. The patients developed no drug-related disease. We conclude that long-term, continuous treatment with ranitidine is effective in maintaining remission of duodenal ulcers, protects the patients against the risk of complications, and is safe.