The nightly spontaneous alkalinization of the stomach

Authors evaluated eighty-four 24-hour intragastric pH recordings of 73 subjects in different pathophysiologic conditions. Among them there were 12 healthy subjects, 27 duodenal ulcer patients, 10 of whom were examined both before and after treatment with H2 receptor antagonists, 18 gastro-esophageal refluxers and 16 other patients who complained of dyspepsia of various origins. Authors observed a spontaneous nocturnal alkalinization phenomenon of the stomach (SNA) which began in the latter part of the night; its onset was strongly related with sleeping and interrupted by waking up. This phenomenon was absent in duodenal ulcer patients but could be restored by treatment with anti-H2 drugs. The authors, moreover, gave evidences of a relation between SNA and the vagal integrity and modulation of the gastric secretions.