Gastric blood flow in patients with gastric ulcer measured by endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry

Gastric blood flow has been studied endoscopically by laser Doppler flowmetry in 15 patients with chronic gastric ulcer. In all patients the ulcer was located at the lesser curvature of the corpus. The blood flow measured in this area was decreased compared with healthy controls, whereas the flow values in other parts of the stomach were similar to those of controls. In the ulcer bed very low blood flow values were measured. The blood flow of the ulcer margin was similar to that of other parts of the lesser curvature. After 4-6 weeks' treatment with the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine, the ulcer was healed in about 70% of the patients. The blood flow measured at the lesser curvature and in the ulcer area was still low and of the same magnitude as the corresponding values of the first measurement. After 4 months the ulcer was healed in all but one patient. The blood flow of the lesser curvature had increased significantly, whereas decreased blood flow was measured at the distal part of the greater curvature. In the area where the ulcer was located, very low flow values were still measured. This finding may explain why ulcer recurrence usually occurs at the site of the primary ulcer.