[The rheological properties of the gastric mucus in peptic ulcer patients]

As many as 57 patients with ulcer disease and 14 normal persons were examined for rheological properties of gastric mucus and gastric secretion in the basal period and in response to maximum stimulation with pentagastrin. It has been established that in patients with ulcer disease, elastic and viscous properties of parietal gastric mucus are decreased, with the intensity and the rate of rheological derangements being dependent on ulcer site. Changes in the rheological parameters of mucus are not related to pathological deviations in gastric secretion of acid and pepsin, occurring much more frequently than the latter ones. This fact points to the independent pathogenetic and diagnostic importance of the above changes.