A randomized trial with a blind observer compared the efficacy of an emulsion containing micronized sucralfate (1 g four times daily) and ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) in the short-term healing of peptic ulcer. Patients with a minimum ulcer size of 5 mm located in the duodenal bulb, the pyloric canal, or in the prepyloric area within a distance of 2 cm from the pylorus were included. A total of 97 patients were randomized and 85 completed the trial. The endoscopically proven healing rate at 2 weeks of 41% for both sucralfate and ranitidine improved to 76% for sucralfate and 73% for ranitidine at 4 weeks and to 95% and 96%, respectively, at 12 weeks. The difference between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant, and the 95% confidence interval for the difference in ulcer healing efficacy of sucralfate emulsion compared with ranitidine was -0.15 to +0.21 at 4 weeks and -0.10 to +0.08 at 12 weeks.