10. Medical Events Occurring in Patients with Duodenal Ulcer Disease during Maintenance Treatment with Ranitidine

Abstract

Four hundred and thirty-six patients with duodenal ulcer disease received maintenance treatment with ranitidine for periods ranging from less than 1 year to more than 9 years. They were followed up for a total of 2175 patient-years, and new medical events were recorded. Nausea (2%), diarrhoea (2%), and constipation (2%) were the most frequent complaints related to the gastrointestinal tract, but in most patients these symptoms were not related to treatment with ranitidine. Headaches occurred in similar numbers of patients (1%) before and during treatment with ranitidine. One patient (0.2%) developed carcinoma of the stomach. Four cases of carcinoma of the large bowel were observed, compared with an expected number of 1.8 (P>0.05). There was no excess mortality in the 436 patients with duodenal ulcer disease receiving maintenance treatment with ranitidine compared with that expected in the general population.

Key Words:

• Carcinoma
• duodenal ulcer
• ranitidine