Maintenance treatment in the prevention of gastric ulcer recurrence: results of a 3-year multicenter study

This study reports data from the third year of a multicenter, prospective, open, 3-year trial in which 290 patients with gastric ulcer followed different treatment protocols (ranitidine or sucralfate or no drug) during the first 2 years. One hundred forty-two patients completed the first 2 years; 50 of them completed the third-year investigation. All 50 patients were left untreated and underwent clinical tests every 3 months and endoscopic checkups every 6 months and for every painful episode lasting more than 3 days. During year 3 follow-up, 1 patient dropped out and 2 had relapses. Mean consumption of antacids ranged from zero to three tablets per week. No gastric neoplasms were detected during the third year of follow-up. These findings suggest that no treatment may be needed in the long-term management of patients with gastric ulcer. No malignancies were found during the second and third years of follow-up, suggesting that close endoscopic examination is necessary only for 6 months after the acute lesion has healed. Maintenance therapy with antisecretory or cytoprotective drugs may be advisable for 1 year.