[The functional-morphological status of the stomach in rheumatism patients]

151 rheumatics aged between 16 and 70 were examined. 110 of them had active rheumatism, in 41 inactive form of the disease was diagnosed. Various gastric changes found in 90.5% of patients were related both to rheumatism and adverse effects of antirheumatic treatment as well as to concomitant diseases of stomach and duodenum. Achlorhydria resistant to pentagastrin was rather in patients with rheumatism. This may be explained by predominant lesions of main cells while parietal cells remain quite intact.