COMPARISON OF ROXATIDINE AND RANITIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY DUODENAL-ULCER

Fourteen patients with duodenal ulcer not healed after treatment with ranitidine at the standard dosage of 300 mg/day for 12 weeks were enro lled in the study. Eight patients were treated with roxatidine acetate , 150 mg/day, for 8 weeks (group A); six patients received treatment w ith ranitidine, 600 mg/day, for 8 weeks (group B). Efficacy of treatme nt was evaluated on the basis of reduction of ulcer pain, lowering of maximal acid output (MAO) levels, and cicatrization of ulcer lesion. T he patients treated with roxatidine showed a significant reduction in MAO levels after 4 weeks, whereas the patients treated with ranitidine showed a significant reduction in MAO levels after 8 weeks. The diffe rences in reduction of ulcer pain or cicatrization percentage were not significant between groups.