Microbiological findings and protein concentration in gastric juice

From 17 patients subjected to pentagastrin test, 136 samples of gastric juice (fasting sample, basal secretion, fractions after stimulation) were collected. The concentration of the protein components (IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and albumin) in the fasting samples were in excess of those found in the basal secretion, but protein output (volume X concentration) was nearly identical in the two samples. The protein concentration of the fractions obtained in response to pentagastrin stimulation were too low to be measurable. According to correlation analysis, protein concentration in the gastric juice is primarily the function of the microbiological finding. The allergic effect of microorganisms in the gastric juice may give rise to an increase in its immunoglobulin and albumin concentrations.