Benign gastric ulcer in a patient with pernicious anemia

This is the report of the presence of a benign gastric ulcer in a patient with achlorhydria and documented pernicious anemia. The pernicious anemia was established by a Histalog-fast achlorhydria, a Schilling test of 2.1% excretion of tagges vitamin B12 in a 24-hr urine, and reticulocytosis after administration of cyanocobalamine. Following Histalog (1.5 mg per kg of body weight), the gastric volume was 40 ml, there was no acid, and the pH was 8.1. The ulcer demonstrated by gastroscopy was confirmed at gastrectomy. Histological examination of the ulcer and the remainder of the stomach showed no malignancy. The principal conclusion of this paper is that the patient did not have an acid-produced ulcer, but that bile regurgitation coupled with alcohol ingestion produced the lesion. Surgical investigation of the ulcer seemed mandatory because of the known increased incidence of gastric carcinoma in patients with pernicious anemia.