Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer with Rioprostil: A Randomized Multicentre Double-Blind Study

Boucekkine T, Meknini B, Bitoun A, Pruniéras F, Khedis A, Lauture D de, Rotenberg A, Molinie C, Roux M, Gauthier A, Bernier JJ. Treatment of duodenal ulcer with rioprostil: a randomized multicentre double-blind study. Scand J Gastroenterol 1989, 24(suppl 164), 191-193 The effectiveness of rioprostil, 300 μg b.d. is evaluated in evolutive duodenal ulcer in a double-blind study in five French and North African centres. A total of 115 patients are included in the study (57 in the rioprostil group and 58 in the placebo group). After a 4-week treatment period, a significantly higher endoscopic healing rate is observed in the rioprostil group (57%) compared with the placebo group (33%) (p < 0.01). The mean time with abdominal pain is significantly lower in the rioprostil group (5.6 ± 4.4 days) compared to the placebo group (12.7 ± 5 days) (p < 0.001). Clinical and biological tolerance is excellent. The only side effect is diarrhoea (3.5% in the rioprostil group). In only one case does diarrhoea necessitate cessation of treatment. Rioprostil, 300 μg b.d., is thus effective in the treatment of developing duodenal ulcer.