Definition for idiopathic gastric acid hypersecretion. A statistical and functional evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Physiology

Background:

• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other gastric hypersecretory states are defined by basal acid output > 15.0 meq/hr.
• Defining idiopathic gastric hypersecretion requires establishing normative basal acid output levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the basal acid output level that defines idiopathic gastric hypersecretion.
• To develop functional and statistical definitions for idiopathic gastric hypersecretion.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated basal acid output in 65 normal subjects for statistical definition.
• Assessed basal acid output in 22 patients with refractory duodenal ulcers for functional definition.
• Calculated mean basal acid output, confidence intervals, and standard deviations for normal subjects.

Main Results:

• Mean basal acid output in normal subjects was 3.0 +/- 2.7 meq/hr.
• The 95% confidence interval for normal basal acid output was 2.4-3.7 meq/hr.
• Mean + 2 SD and Mean + 3 SD for normal subjects were 8.4 meq/hr and 11.1 meq/hr, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Statistical definition of idiopathic gastric hypersecretion can be derived from normal subject data.
• Further investigation is needed to correlate these findings with functional definitions in ulcer patients.