Nocturnal Gastric Contents in Duodenal Ulcer and Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia: Studies of Volume, Acidity and Peptic Activity

Abstract

Summary 1.The nocturnal gastric contents were obtained by continuous aspiration in normal subjects and in patients with duodenal ulcer and with non-ulcer dyspepsia, and the volume, concentration of free and total acid and peptic activity were determined. 2.Patients with duodenal ulcer in whom vomiting was a feature of the clinical picture and in whom there was remarkable pylorospasm on x-ray had on the average a higher total volume than did the normal subjects. Duodenal ulcer patients without these features had total volumes within the normal range. 3.The volume of combined acid and the peptic activity of the aspirate was. greater in the duodenal ulcer patients. 4.The cases of non-ulcer dyspepsia showed a high concentration of free acid.