THE EFFECT OF NIZATIDINE ON DUODENAL-ULCER HEALING AND ON MUCOSAL INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS

The aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of nizatidine on duodenal ulcer healing and ge neration of mucosal prostaglandin estradiol and inflammatory mediators . Fifty-five patients with endoscopically proven active duodenal ulcer received either nizatidine 300 mg or placebo, once nightly, for 4 wee ks, when a second endoscopy was performed. Healing was defined as comp lete epithelialization of the ulcer crater. At both endoscopies mucosa l biopsies were obtained for determination of prostanoids and inflamma tory mediators. Nizatidine and placebo induced ulcer healing in 76% an d 60.9% of the patients, respectively, but the difference did not reac h statistical significance. Nizatidine treatment did not significantly affect mucosal leukotriene B-4, leukotriene C-4 or platelet activatin g factor generation. It is concluded, therefore, that the antisecretor y effect is probably the main mechanism responsible for nizatidine's t herapeutic effects in peptic ulcer disease.