Gastric acid and histamine secretion in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

Gastric secretion was measured in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), non-uraemic patients with a duodenal ulcer (DU), and healthy volunteers (HV). Basal acid outputs were not significantly different in the three groups. Under pentagastrin stimulation, acid secretion was lower in CAPD patients than in DU patients (p < 0.02) but not different from HV controls. Between CAPD and DU, basal histamine secretion measured in the gastric juice was not different, but the concentration in blood plasma was significantly lower in the CAPD group (p < 0.05). Under pentagastrin stimulation, gastric histamine output and plasma histamine concentration were significantly lower in CAPD patients (p < 0.05, respectively). Both basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid and histamine outputs were directly related. These results suggest that CAPD patients do not have an increased risk of developing DU, but may need acid blockade if they are treated for hyperphosphataemia with aluminium containing drugs.