[Age-related aspects of gastric secretion in duodenal ulcer during the exacerbation phase (a pentagastrin study)]

The age characteristics of gastric secretion were studied in 145 patients with duodenal ulcer and 32 healthy subjects via pentagastrin. With age advancing of the patients, a gradual reduction of gastric secretion and acidity are found, being statistically significant after the age of 49. Apart of that, the average values of the indices for each age group remain considerably higher than the normal. The age, at which the disease originated, has also a certain effect on gastric secretion. Significant reduction is observed after the age of 49, concerning only secretion volume and acidity elimination at basic conditions. The changes found in the gastric secretion and acidity are admitted to possibly play a definite role for the rather unusual course and relatively rare duodenal ulcer origination at the age of 50.