The factors determining success or failure of cimetidine treatment of peptic ulcer.

Why a substantial proportion of peptic ulcers fails to heal in clinical trials of drugs remains uncertain. We therefore made a prospective study of biological and social factors which might influence healing. 160 patients who were treated with cimetidine for various types of peptic ulceration were grouped into successes or failures by serial endoscopic review. There were 80 patients in each group. Significant differences between the two groups emerged. The mean age and mean age of onset of symptoms were lower in the failure group. The proportion of manual workers and artisans, the frequency of family history of peptic ulcer, the proportion of smokers, alcohol users, analgesic takers, and the frequency of acid hypersecretion were all higher in the failure group. The "degree" of abuse of smoking, alcohol, and analgesics was also greater in the failures than in the successes. The proportional reduction of maximal acid output after a dose of cimetidine was not different between the groups.