STUDIES ON ANACIDITY: THE HYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION OF THE GASTRIC SECRETION, THE GASTROSCOPIC APPEARANCE OF THE GASTRIC MUCOSA, AND THE PRESENCE OF A GASTRIC SECRETORY DEPRESSANT IN PATIENTS WITH ANACIDITY

Abstract

The pH of histamine stimulated gastric juice was detd. in 72 patients with anacidity. Observations also included the gastroscopic appearance of the mucosa and the presence of a secretory depressant in the gastric juice of 19 patients of this series. The avg. pH values in 17 patients with pernicious anemia were 7.43, 7.81, 7.87, 7.95, 8.04, 8.01, and 7.99. The gastroscopic , changes varied from a patchy atrophic gastritis to extensive atrophy. In 6 patients, the gastric juice contained a gastric secretory depressant. The avg. pH values in 19 patients with atrophic gastritis were 7.47, 7.74, 7.60, 7.00, 6.97, 7.09, and 6.90. In 3 of 5 patients a secretory depressant was present in the gastric juice. The avg. values in carcinoma of the stomach (8 cases) were 7.46, 7.36, 6.99, 6.51, 6.45, 6.98, and 7.37. The gastric juice in 2 of 3 patients contained a secretory depressant. The avg. pH values in anacidity following radiation therapy (10 cases) were 7.17, 7.31, 6.89, 6.02, 5.79, 6.20, and 6.31. The gastric juice in 3 patients did not contain a secretory depressant. pH curves in patients with anacidity associated with miscellaneous conditions often resembled those obtained in the preceeding groups indicating no specific values for any disease process. No correlation existed between the pH of the gastric secretions, the gastroscopic appearance of the mucosa, the presence or absence of a secretory depressant factor in the secretion, and the presence or absence of anemia. Anacidity was most complete and constant in pernicious anemia.