[Acid-base balance in ulcer patients]

Acid-base balance was studied in 60 ulcer patients in exacerbation and after treatment with losek and blockers of H2-histamine receptors. In exacerbation, all the patients had acidosis of metabolic or respiratory type. Losek changed blood pH insignificantly, and one acidosis type changed for the other. A single ranitidin dose shifted pH to alkalosis in healthy subjects while ulcer patients given famotidine restored acid-base balance. The latter is shown to correlate with gastric secretion of bicarbonates. Acidosis may contribute to exacerbation of ulcer.