DUODENAL-ULCER IN THE SUDAN - CLINICAL-FEATURES AND TREATMENT WITH H-2 BLOCKERS

In a prospective study, 168 Sudanese patients with endoscopically prov en duodenal ulcer were studied. The mean age was 36 (SD 3) years and t he male:female ratio was 3:1. Most of the patients belonged to the low er social class (class 3) and the chief presenting features were long standing epigastric pain (72.6%), heartburn (66.4%) and upper gastroin testinal bleeding (45.5%). The endoscopic appearance of the ulcers was severe in 40% of patients; this, together with the genetic and distin ct dietary factors, may have contributed to the low healing rates foll owing treatment with H-2 receptor blockers.