[Esophageal potential difference in patients with peptic ulcer and gastritis]

A potential difference is generated by the active transport of electrolytes through low permeability epithelium such as the gastric and esophageal mucosa. A decrease in this potential has been proposed as an indicator of mucosal damage. We measured potential difference in 151 patients undergoing endoscopy for duodenal ulcer, gastritis or as a control group. Mean for the whole group was -18 + 0.5 mV, range -4 to -37. No differences were found among groups. Due to the ample variation in potential difference both at the gastric and esophageal levels, its determination was of no use in localizing the boundary between gastric and esophageal mucosa.