[A multicenter clinical trial. Zinc acexamate versus famotidine in the treatment of acute duodenal ulcer. Study Group of Zinc acexamate (new UP doses)].

A multicentric double-blind trial comparing 600 mg/d of Zinc Acexamate (ACZ) and 40 mg/d of Famotidine (FMT) in the short term treatment of acute duodenal ulcer included 199 patients, diagnosed by endoscopy. One-hundred and five patients received ACZ and 94 FMT, during four weeks. A clinical control took place at two weeks and a second clinical and endoscopic control at the end of the treatment (4 weeks). Complete cicatrization of the ulcer was observed in 56.5% of patients on ACZ and in 69.5% of patients of FMT (N.S.). A reduction of more than 50% of the ulcer diameter was recorded in 78.8% of the ACZ group and in 79.9% of the FMT group. Alcohol and smoking did not influence the results. Both treatments were equally effective in the disappearance of symptoms. The incidence of adverse reactions was very low in both groups (< 5%) and no patient dropped from the trial for this reason. In conclusion, a dosage of 600 mg/d of ACZ has shown to be as effective as 40 mg/d of FMT in the healing of duodenal ulcer.