Related Experiment Videos
Serum pepsinogen can predict response to H2-receptor antagonist in patients with functional dyspepsia
I Yoshikawa1, I Murata, K Kume
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Background:
Therapy for the relief of symptoms of functional dyspepsia is unpredictable.
Aim:
To identify which patients may benefit from antisecretory therapy.
Methods:
Twenty-seven patients with functional dyspepsia were selected to receive H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) treatment for 4 weeks. Serum pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and gastrin were measured, and Helicobacter pylori status was determined. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and after H2RA treatment.
Results:
Fourteen patients were identified as H2RA responders and the remaining patients were non-responders. No differences were found between responders and non-responders with regard to serum pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C, gastrin and H. pylori status. However, the pepsinogen A/C ratio was significantly higher in responders than in non-responders. Ten of the 13 functional dyspepsia patients (77%) with a high value of the pepsinogen A/C ratio (> or = 4.5) achieved symptom resolution by H2RA, compared with only one of the eight patients (13%) with a low value of the pepsinogen A/C ratio (< or = 3.0).
Conclusions:
The serum pepsinogen A/C ratio seems to identify those functional dyspepsia patients for whom acid control provides benefit. This ratio may be a practical tool for the management of functional dyspepsia patients.