We studied the usefulness of a method for endoscopically evaluating the Jhealingprocess of gastric ulcers by pharmacoendoscopy (PE) using a spray of the vasaactivatesubstance epinephrine to scar lesion. The changes in color tone of ulcer scars sprayed withepinephrihe was classified as showing a persistent reddish tone (P
R) or as showing a whitishtone (P
W). Assessment of the blood volume at the ulcer scar by image analysis revealedthat the blood volume at the P
R scars was about 1.5 times than that of the surroundingnormal mucosa. In contrast, the blood volume of P
W scars was only about 1.1 times thanthat of normal mucosa. Changes in color tone of ulcer scars on PE were thus confirmedto be related to mucosal blood volume. The time course of PE findings revealed that P
R was shown soon after the scarformation in most cases, and the response changed to P
W with the passage of time. Thetransfer rate from P
R to P
W depended on the depth of the ulcer. The cumulative transferrate from P
R to P
W 24 months after in ul-III scars (61%) was significantly higher than thatin ul-IV scar (22%). Cumulative recurrent rates were studied for each stage based onconventional observations and PE findings of ulcer scars. The cumulative recurrent ratesduaring 24 months after evaluation of red scars(S
1)by conventional observation was 45%, while that for white scars(S
2) was 35%. The 24-month cumulative recurrent rate for P
R scars, as evaluated by PE, was high (43%). However, the 24-month cumulative recurrentrate of P
W scars was 10%, which was lower than scars evaluated as S
1, S
2 and P
R. Inaddition, recurrence in the carne site as the originai ulcer was not noted far ulcers evacuatedas P
W even in cases possitive for Helicobacter pylori. Histological exarnination demonstrated that scars showing P
W were more mature than P
R scars. These fihdings indicatethat it is possible to evaluate the maturity of ulcer scars from the contractile function ofintramucosal vessel; ulcer showing P
W can be evaluated to have healed permanently.
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