[A clinico-endoscopic study on cicatrization of lesions and prevention of recurrences in patients with liver cirrhosis and peptic ulcer]

Seventy-four and five cirrhotic patients with acute peptic ulcer were respectively treated with H2-blockers and cytoprotective drugs for 4-6 weeks; after this period 49 (62.2%) healed and 14 (17.7%) did not heal after further 2 months with the same therapy. In order to observe the effectiveness of H2-blockers in preventing peptic ulcer recurrences, 77 cirrhotic patients were followed-up for a mean period of 12 months (range 3-48 months) after ulcer scarring; 51.2% under H2-blockers maintenance treatment and 54.8% who took antiacid in case of need, relapsed. The therapeutical response, as regards short-term treatment in cirrhotic patients, seems not to differ from the usual outcome of the general ulcer population; on the contrary, the relapses, also during a maintenance therapy, appears increased.