Long term XXXX therapy for the prevention of recurring peptic ulcer: a multicenter study.

@entity4444 @entity1 @entity1066
The aim of this study was to gain experience regarding the efficacy and safety of @entity4444 400 mg nightly for the long-term maintenance treatment of peptic @entity1066 three years. The trial was carried out in 44 centres in 12 countries. 1988 @entity1 with endoscopically-proven peptic ulceration initially underwent an acute treatment over 6-12 weeks (open study) with 1000 mg @entity4444 -the dosage could be increased to 1600 mg daily if necessary. After 6 weeks, 81% of @entity1 had healed @entity1066 and the cumulative healing rate after 12 weeks rose to 95%. The statistical analysis of the subsequent long-term maintenance treatment was based on data from 1726 @entity1 (82% with healed pyloric or duodenal @entity1066 ; 16% with ulcus ventriculi and 2% with @entity1066 subsequent to stomach surgery) who received 400 mg @entity4444 nightly over 3 years. Based on life-table analysis, @entity1 who received 400 mg @entity4444 nightly during the entire length of the study showed relapse rates of 25%, 36% and 45% after 1, 2 and 3 years respectively. The effect of various prognostic factors on the ulcer relapse rate was examined. @entity1 who smoked or who were younger than 50 years suffered significantly more relapses and @entity1 with duodenal @entity1066 also relapsed more frequently. After the open-design long-term maintenance treatment study had been continued over 2 years, one-fifth of the @entity1 who had remained relapse-free were randomly assigned to placebo for one year. In the 3rd year, 36% in the placebo group and 16% of the @entity1 who had continued with @entity4444 had relapsed. This difference is statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
