Augmented histamine test

Gastric acid secretion and emptying rates in children with duodenal ulcer

Gastric acid secretion was studied in 30 children with duodenal ulcer and 33 normal children. Both basal (BAO) and maximal (MAO) acid outputs were found to be significantly elevated in patients. In addition, among patients themselves, those with severe disease demonstrated significantly higher MAO than those with mild disease. A concomitant study on gastric emptying rates revealed no difference between patients and normal children.

Effect of chronic antacid ingestion on serum gastrin and gastric secretion

Basal gastrin and acid secretion, and histamine- and food-stimulated acid secretion were examined before and after 6 weeks of regular antacid consumption by 20 normal volunteers, in order to test the hypothesis that regular use of antacids produces gastrin cell hyperplasia, altered gastrin inhibition by acid, and gastric hypersecretion. We found no differences in fasting serum gastrin, basal or maximal histamine-stimulated acid, or acid output in response to a protein meal after consumption of commercial antacids with or without calcium carbonate. The results suggest that normal subjects do not acquire functional hyperactivity of the gastrin mechanism after a period of regular antacid use.

Use and abuse of gastric function tests by British and American gastric surgeons

The use of gastric function tests by American and British gastroenterologic surgeons in different clinical situations has been studied by questionnaire. Clinical practice on both sides of the Atlantic is generally similar. The major difference in the type of test employed is that pentagastrin cannot be used in clinical practice in the United States. Surgeons in the USA were much more liberal in their indications for gastric secretory tests than were their British counterparts. Significantly more tests were used by American surgeons, if x-ray evidence of duodenal or gastric ulcer existed, and to evaluate a post-gastrectomy patient, whether symptomatic or not. The British surgeonswere much less likely to allow the results of secretory tests to influence their surgical approach. The authors discuss indications for and the clinical value of gastric secretion tests and conclude that in most instances far too many tests are being employed.