[Maximal gastric secretion during physical exertion and restitution in patients with chronic duodenal ulcer]

The purpose of this work was determination of the effect of physical exercise on maximal gastric output. The study was carried out in 21 men aged 20-56 years with chronic duodenal ulcer. The control group comprised 17 healthy men aged 20-28 years. During three successive hours the maximal acid output was determined at rest, during one-hour exercise on a cycle ergometer and during one-hour restitution. Gastric secretion was stimulated with pentagastrin administered subcutaneously in a dose of 6 mcg/kg at the beginning of each hour of the study. Besides that the parameters of acid-base equilibrium were determined before the beginning of resting MAO measurement, immediately after its completion, and then after one hour of exercise and one hour of restitution. Physical exercise caused in the group of patients a significant increase of MAO (p less than 0.001), which was due to increased volume of gastric juice (p less than 0.001) and the concentration of acid in it (p less than 0.02). During the restitution the value of MAO was significantly below that obtained at rest. On the other hand, in healthy subjects exercise caused a significant reduction of MAO value (p less than 0.005) as a result of decreased volume of gastric juice (p less than 0.005). During MAO determination at rest a rise was observed in the pH of blood, increased concentration of bicarbonates and base excess (p less than 0.05). During the exercise with further aspiration of gastric juice a further significant increase of pH and pO2 and reduction of pCO2 (p less than 0.05) was observed. Exercise caused in patients an increase of gastric secretion in contrast to healthy subjects. Changes in acid-base balance showed a tendency for metabolic alkalosis with hypocapnia, and were similar in both groups.