Intrinsic factor secretion after vagotomy

The intrinsic factor (IF) output during basal and Histalog-stimulated gastric secretion has been estimated in two series of patients with chronic duodenal ulcer before and 3 months or more after treatment by either highly selective vagotomy or truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty. The effects of the two different vagotomy operations appear to be virtually identical and each produced significant reductions in intrinsic factor secretion after Histalog stimulation. This confirms the view expressed by previous workers that it is the vagotomy as such which is responsible, excluding the drainage procedure from any possible role. Furthermore, as these results were demonstrated 3 months after operation, it is likely that the depressed IF secretion is a permanent feature and one which, it is postulated, may become progressively more severe. In both series there is a marked reduction in IFoutput during the second hour of stimulated gastric secretion, indicating an early wash-out of preformed IF. This persists after vagotomy.