Although eradication of Helicobacter pyloricures duodenal ulcer, some patients are not infected andothers are treatment failures. This randomized,double-blind, placebocontrolled study assessed the value of treatment with low-dose lansoprazole inpreventing duodenal ulcer recurrence. One hundredeighty-six patients with endoscopic documentation ofhealed duodenal ulcer received 15 mg/day lansoprazole or placebo for 12 months or until ulcer recurred.Endoscopy results, symptom assessment, and fasting serumgastrin levels were obtained at multiple time points.Densities of E, EC, and G cells were assessed by biopsy when the ulcer recurred or at thefinal visit. Time to ulcer recurrence was significantlylonger (P < 0.001)="" in="" the="" lansoprazole="" group="" (median="">12 months) compared to placebo (median <3months), and="" patients="" taking="" lansoprazole="" wereasymptomatic="" longer="" (p="">< 0.05).="" maintenance="" therapywith="" lansoprazole="" 15="" mg/day="" suppresses="" acid="" and="" controlsrecurrence="" of="" duodenal="" ulcer="">