QJM, Vol 91, Issue 3 231-237, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
KD Bardhan, AK Nayyar and C Royston
We studied 2119 patients presenting with duodenal ulcer as sole lesion, in
the period 1976-1993, the era of H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) therapy,
prior to the introduction of Helicobacter pylori eradication. We used
clinical assessment and serial check endoscopy to investigate the incidence
of bleeding at presentation (group I, n = 286, 13.5%), the long-term
outcome in this group and in that presenting with pain alone (group II, n =
1833, 87%) with respect to ulcer recurrence and bleeding, and the effect of
H2RA maintenance therapy. Most patients were treated with H2RA, principally
cimetidine. In group I, seven patients died early on; 38 had urgent
surgery, of whom six died post- operatively. The remainder were treated;
five immediately re-bled, of whom three were operated on. On follow-up,
98/227 group I patients relapsed, 21 (21%) of whom rebled. Relapse in group
II was 1017/1668, with only 42 (4%) bleeding (p < 0.001). In patients
without maintenance treatment, relapse was markedly higher (50/78 group I,
529/742 group II), but group II still bled significantly less (20% group I
vs. 3% group II). Relapse on maintenance was: 48/149 with five (10%)
rebleeding in group I, and 488/926 with five (1%) bleeding in group II (p
< 0.001). Despite the introduction of H2RA therapy, patients presenting
with haemorrhage still have a risk of bleeding at ulcer relapse about
7-fold higher than that for those presenting with pain alone.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
The outcome of bleeding duodenal ulcer in the era of H2 receptor antagonist therapy
Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
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