Evaluation of carbenoxolone sodium in the treatment of duodenal ulcer

Abstract

A double blind trial involving 21 patients on carbenoxolone and 23 patients on placebo was conducted under endoscopic control to assess the healing of duodenal ulcers over a period of 6 weeks. The two groups were adequately matched with the exception that larger ulcers predominated in the carbenoxolone group. Relief of symptoms showed poor correlation with ulcer healing. Fourteen of the 21 patients in the carbenoxolone group and 7 of the 23 in the placebo group showed endoscopic evidence of complete healing. The result is highly significant (P less than 0.016) and confirms the therapeutic efficacy of carbenoxolone sodium positioned-release capsules in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. Side effects of carbenoxolone therapy in the form of weight gain, rise in diastolic blood pressure and hypokalaemia were observed, but with adequate monitoring and appropriate countermeasures, no patient suffered any ill effects.