Cimetidine for Prevention and Treatment of Gastroduodenal Mucosal Lesions in Patients in an Intensive Care Unit

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-103-2-173

Cimetidine for Prevention and Treatment of Gastroduodenal Mucosal Lesions in Patients in an Intensive Care Unit

DAVID A. PEURA, M.D.; and
LAWRENCE F. JOHNSON, M.D.

Washington, D.C.; and Bethesda, Maryland

Abstract

The efficacy of Cimetidine in the prevention and treatment of stress-induced gastroduodenal lesions was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which serial endoscopy was used to examine patients without clinical evidence of bleeding who were admitted to a medical intensive care unit. Endoscopy showed that 14 of 21 patients treated with Cimetidine, compared with 5 of 18 patients treated with placebo, had normal or improved gastroduodenal mucosa (p < 0.05). Endoscopic signs of bleeding cleared or did not develop in 20 patients treated with Cimetidine and in 11 patients treated with placebo (p < 0.01). Significantly fewer blood transfusions were given to patients with endoscopic signs of bleeding in the cimetidine-treated group (0.5 ±0.3 [SE] units) than in placebo-treated patients (4.5 ±1.5 units; p < 0.05). The mortality rate was not statistically different between treatment groups. By preventing established gastroduodenal stress lesions from progressing in severity, Cimetidine diminished both bleeding and the need for transfusions.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Gastoenterology Service, Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C; and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
The opinions or assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Lawrence F. Johnson, M.D.; Gastroenterology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Washington, DC 20307-50001.