The effectiveness of carbenoxolone in the treatment of gastro-duodenal ulcer patients.

A double-blind clinical study was carried out in 70 patients with the preparations Biogastrone and Biogastrone-Duodenal (Duogastrone) or Placebo. The group comprised 42 men and 28 women aged between 19 and 64 years. Twenty four patients had gastric ulcer and 46 patients duodenal ulcer. The intensity of pain, dyspepsia, the rate of healing of the ulcer niche using endoscopic assessment were used to assess efficacy. The effect on the secretory function, blood electrolyte changes and the process of the ulcer regeneration were also studied. The tolerance and the appearance of side-effects were carefully observed. Biogastrone and Biogastrone-Duodenal were administered in daily doses of 300 mg for the first week, followed by 150 mg over the following weeks. Patients given placebo treatment received identical dummy tablets or capsules. Endoscopic assessment showed a healing rate of over 70% in both gastric and duodenal ulcer, healing occurred usually between 3-5 weeks. About 36% placebo healing was observed in both types of ulcer. The preparations were well tolerated and side-effects seldom observed. These results show that Biogastrone and Biogastrone-Duodenal are efficient preparations in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer.