[Double-blind evaluation of the effectiveness of cimetidine in the arrest of hemorrhages due to gastroduodenal peptic lesions]. / Valutazione in doppio cieco dell'efficacia della cimetidina nell'arresto delle emorragie da lesioni peptiche gastro-duodenali.

40 patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of bleeding gastric or duodenal lesions have been examined in a double blind study. The haemorrhages were subdivided into slight and serious on the basis of objective parameters. Cimetidine (1.2 g/die i.v.) or placebo in a preparation indistinguishable from the drug were administered to patients. Arrest of the haemorrhage was evaluated on the basis of clinical and endoscopic criteria, and the study was pursued up to 96 hours from the start of bleeding. The effect of cimetidine proved greater than that of the placebo in serious haemorrhage, particularly where due to gastric lesions, but no differences were seen between drug and placebo in the slight haemorrhages.