Luminal leakage of HCO3 in chronic antral erosions

Gastric bicarbonate content has been determined, under basal conditions, in ten patients with chronic antral erosions, and in ten healthy controls. The former group showed a significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than normal luminal concentration of HCO3. After medical treatment gastric bicarbonate content returned to normal in patients showing endoscopic healing, but not in subjects with persisting erosions. It is suggested that in chronic antral erosions, extensive disruption of mucosal integrity leads to passive leakage of bicarbonate into the gastric lumen.