[Long-term cyclic and periodic omeprazole in the prevention of recurrences of duodenal ulcer].

The aim of this study was to establish if the discontinuous assumption of omeprazole was effective to reduce the recurrence of duodenal ulcer disease as the cyclic periodical assumptions of the same drug. Consequently two different posologies, after duodenal ulcer recovery, were compared, both based on omeprazole. In the first trial 20 mg/die were administrated for the first 15 days of every month, for 1 year. In the second, the same dose were administrated for 15 days only when symptoms occurred. It was not utilised a comparison with placebo or other drugs. Symptomatic score and recurrence rate were evaluated by means of EGDS after 6 months and 1 year. In some patients were also controlled the gastrinemia. Both trials were effective in the prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse, without increasing gastrinemia. Nevertheless patients assuming omeprazole only when symptomatic, showed a greater symptomatic score. Concluding, the assumption of omeprazole only when symptoms occur is effective in the prevention of relapse but require a close relation between patients and the medical team.