Cimetidine vs antacid in prophylaxis for stress ulceration. Arch Surg 1981 May;116(5):597-601
Date
05/01/1981Pubmed ID
7016067DOI
10.1001/archsurg.1981.01380170077013Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0019412139 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 60 CitationsAbstract
Seven-seven critically ill patients were prospectively randomized into four groups to compare antacids and various doses of cimetidine in the neutralization of gastric acid for preventing complications of stress ulcers. Gastric pH was monitored hourly, basing the efficacy of neutralization on preselected pH values for each study group. Cimetidine provided adequate neutralization in 14 (23%) of 61 patients. Gastric acid in all 16 patients treated with antacids was adequately neutralized. Stress bleeding occurred in three (5%) patients treated with cimetidine and in no patient treated with antacids. Reversible thrombocytopenia developed in six (26%) of 23 patients treated with 2,400 mg/day of cimetidine. Hourly monitoring of gastric pH is a mandatory component in the prevention of stress bleeding. Antacid is the preferred agent for gastric acid neutralization because it is more effective, safer, and less expensive.
Author List
Weigelt JA, Aurbakken CM, Gewertz BL, Snyder WH 3rdMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Antacids
Cimetidine
Clinical Trials as Topic
Critical Care
Gastric Acidity Determination
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Guanidines
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Random Allocation
Stomach Ulcer
Stress, Physiological
Thrombocytosis
