SERUM GROUP I PEPSINOGEN (PG I) LEVELS IN THE SUBJECTS WITH ENDOSCOPICALLY NORMAL MUCOSA AND THE PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC ULCER

Abstract

We have measured serum group I pepsinogen (PG I) levels in the subjects with endoscopically normal mucosa and the patients with peptic ulcer in order to investigate the normal range of serum PG I levels. Serum PG I levels in the patients with recurrent ulcer and the mechanism of release of PG I into the blood stream were also studied. Mean (±S.E.) serum PG I levels in 136 subjects with endoscopically normal mucosa was 61±2ng/ml and the normal range was considered to be 30-109ng/ml from the frequency distribution. Mean serum PG I levels in the patients with recurrent gastric ulcer was not significantly higher than the value in the patients with non-recurrent ulcer. On the contrary, mean serum PG I levels in the patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer was significantly higher than the value in the patients with non-recurrent duodenal ulcer. Administration of atropine caused a significant diminution of serum PG I in the patients with duodenal ulcer, which suggests the vagal control of PG I release.