Should Age, Sex, Subjective Symptoms in the Stomach and Past History of Peptic Ulcer be Regarded in the Evaluation of Efficacy of Serum Pepsinogen Values for Use in Gastric Cancer Mass-screening ?

Abstract

The subjects were 13, 500 employees. Sera and information on age, sex, subjective symptoms in the stomach and past histories of peptic ulcer were collected. Serum pepsinogen I and II values were measured and analyzed (LPI and LPII : natural logarithm of serum pepsinogen I and II (ng/ml) respectively). Among those with stomach ache, heavy feeling of stomach or nausea, LPI and LPII levels were higher than among those without the symptoms, and it was suggested that those with subjective stomach symptoms should be dealt with separately in the evaluation of efficacy of gastric cancer mass-screening by serum pepsinogen values. Among those with a past history of duodenal ulcer, LPI and LPII levels were higher, and among those with a past history of gastric ulcer, LPI level was lower but LPII level was higher, and it was suggested that those with a past history of peptic ulcer should also be dealt with separately in the evaluation. Because serum pepsinogen values changed depending on age and sex among those without any subjective stomach symptoms or past history of peptic ulcer, it was suggested that the evaluation of efficacy of these values for mass-screening should be done separately with respect to age and sex. J Epidemiol, 1993; 3 : 71-76