Low-dose antacids versus ranitidine in the short-term treatment of patients with duodenal ulcer. Endoscopic and histologic placebo-controlled study.

In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial we compared the efficiency of two Polish antacids (Alugastrin, dihydroxyaluminium sodium carbonate and Alumag, aluminium hydroxide with magnesium hydroxide; buffering capacity 189 and 224 mmol) with ranitidine in the healing of duodenal ulcer. We also examined the effect of drugs on the frequency and severity of gastritis and selected morphometric parameters of the fundic mucosa. The study showed that low-dose antacids effectively promote the healing of duodenal ulcer during four week therapy, similarly to ranitidine (72%, 76% and 80%, respectively) and significantly better than placebo (46%). Both antacids and ranitidine were without effects on the chronic gastritis and did not cause any trophic changes of the gastric mucosa.