Cimetidine for Anastomotic Ulcers after Partial Gastrectomy — A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

In a randomized double-blind multicenter trial, 15 outpatients with endoscopically proved anastomotic ulceration after Billroth I or Billroth II partial gastrectomy received cimetidine, 1 g daily over eight weeks, or a placebo. All patients also received antacid. The ulcer healed completely in all seven cimetidine-treated patients and in one of the eight placebo-treated patients (P<0.01). Ulcers not healed during the double-blind phase of the trial were all subsequently healed on open cimetidine treatment. There was a trend toward improvement of daytime symptoms in favor of cimetidine (P = 0.06), and nighttime symptoms were significantly relieved during the initial four weeks of cimetidine treatment P = 0.02). We conclude that cimetidine, 1 g daily, promotes healing of anastomotic ulcers after partial gastrectomy. (N Engl J Med 301:1077–1080, 1979)