[Types of duodenal ulcer according to antrum function: its relation to the gastric acid secretory capacity and blood...

A series of duodenal ulcer patients was studied to determine the relationship of the integrated postprandial gastrin response with the maximal acid secretory capacity, the ABO blood groups, age of onset of ulcer dyspepsia, and the family history of ulcer dyspepsia of the patients. It was found that: 1. The A, B, AB duodenal ulcer patients had a significantly higher maximal acid gastric secretory capacity (P less than 0.001), significantly earlier age of onset of ulcer dyspepsia (P less than 0.001) and significantly stronger family history of dyspepsia (P less than 0.05) than those patients with O blood group. 2. The integrated gastrin response was significantly higher in "hipersecreting" duodenal ulcer patients (secreted more than 25 mMol/h in response to histamine) than in "normosecreting" duodenal ulcer patients (secreted less than 25 mMol/h) (P less than 0.001) but the values for the latter were not different from normal subjects. 3. There was not statistical significant difference between the mean values of the basal serum gastrim levels of normosecreting duodenal ulcer patients, the hypersecreting duodenal ulcer patients and the normal subjects. 4. A significant positive correlation exists between the maximal acid output and integrated postprandial gastrin response in duodenal ulcer patients. (P less than 0.001). This correlation was negative in the normal subjects (P less than 0.01). 5. This finding supports the existence of a positive relationship between the functioning parietal cell and gastrin cell masses.