Gastric function in chronic renal failure. Effects of maintenance haemodialysis

40 patients with chronic renal failure have been studied in order to determine why some patients with azotaemia have previously been reported to secrete abnormally large amounts of acid and some to secrete very little. 15 of the 40 patients were undergoing regular haemodialysis, while the remaining 25 patients had not been so treated. 10 of the 25 non-dialysed patients had much-impaired capacity to secrete acid. The impaired gastric secretory capacity was corrected and became abnormally great after some months of regular haemodialysis in 4 patients. Regular haemodialysis, by removing factors responsible for the gastric mucosal damage, permits manifestations of an underlying gastric hypersecretory state.