Cimetidine and colloidal bismuth in treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. Comparison of initial healing and recurrence after healing.

The aim of the study was to compare the use of cimetidine and colloidal bismuth in the initial healing of chronic duodenal ulcer and to note the recurrence rate over 1 year after healing induced by both forms of treatment. Cimetidine was administered in the dose of 200 mg three times daily and 400 mg at night and the dose of colloidal bismuth was 5 ml four times each day. 51 outpatients with chronic duodenal ulcers proven on endoscopy completed the initial study. At 3 weeks, healing was observed in 83% of the cimetidine group and 70% of the colloidal bismuth group (p greater than 0.10); at 6 weeks, 96% of patients in both groups had healed. 33 patients were followed up over 1 year, 16 having initially been treated with cimetidine and 17 with colloidal bismuth. 2 other patients originally treated with cimetidine were followed up for 6 months only. No further treatment was given. Endoscopy was performed at 6 and 12 months, or earlier if symptoms developed. At 6 months, 44% of patients in the cimetidine group had recurred compared to 47% in the colloidal bismuth group (p greater than 0.5). At 1 year, 75% of patients in the cimetidine group and 76% in the colloidal bismuth group had recurred (p greater than 0.5). It is concluded that both agents are equally effective in healing duodenal ulcers and the incidence of recurrence over 1 year is similar irrespective of whether the initial healing is induced with colloidal bismuth or cimetidine.