[The role of acid in ulcer pain (author's transl)]

In 33 patients (duodenal ulcer 11, gastric ulcer 10, nonulcerous bulbar lesions 7, anastomotic ulcer 4, antral erosions 1), approximately 4 ml HCL 0,1 N were instilled under endoscopic view directly onto the lesion, with the purpose of eliciting patients-specific pain. Five (5) patients were test-positive; their pain was reproduced (duodenal ulcer 1, gastric ulcer 2, other bulbar lesions 2), the rest was negative. Twenty-three of the 33 patients were studied during a period of spontaneous pain, 4 exhibiting a positive test; 9 were asymptomatic, and 2 of these had a positive test. The role of acid in ulcer pain remains unclear. The pertinent literature is discussed.