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Sixty patients with benign chronic gastric ulcer were treated in a controlled clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy of Cimetidine and tri‐potassium di‐citrato bismuthate (De‐Nol). Patients were assigned at random either to Cimetidine or to De‐Nol treatment after initial endoscopic diagnosis. Healing was assessed endoscopically after six weeks by an endoscopist who had no knowledge of the patients' treatment. Consumption of analgesic preparations (both for medical and for non‐medical reasons), of other anti‐inflammatory agents, and of alcohol and cigarettes was recorded. Of the 57 patients who were reassessed at six weeks, 30 had been assigned to De‐Nol and 20 of these patients (66%) had completely healed; 27 patients had been assigned to Cimetidine and 17 of these (63%) had also completely healed. Those patients who regularly ingested more than four analgesic preparations a day healed less frequently, but this effect was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between Cimetidine and De‐Nol in the initial healing of chronic gastric ulceration. The choice of therapy for chronic gastric ulceration will depend on cost, patient acceptance, and data from studies of more complex therapeutic regimens.

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