The assessment of the antipeptic effect of ulcer therapy

A semi-quantitative method for the analysis of the proteolytic activity of the gastric juice is described. The method is based on the measurement of "lengths" of digested chicken egg-white in fenestrated chlorvinyl tubes. Each tube remained in the stomach of the test subject for 12 hours, either during the day or during the night. During the night, the proteolytic activity of the gastric juice was 30% higher than during the day. A one-week ulcer therapy with atropine and Vikalin (Roter) led to a significant (p less than 0.01) reduction of the nocturnal proteolytic activity. The anticholinergic Chlososil (0.08 g) administered in the evening reduced the proteolytic potential during the night to the level seen during the day. In patients with duodenal and gastric ulcers, the drop in proteolytic activity during ulcer therapy was inversely proportional to the level of the acid output.