The study was undertaken to determine the value of gastric acid measurement and to determine the importance of the patients' ability to handle the acid produced. A standardized maximal histamine stimulation test and an indwelling pH sensitive radio-telemeterd electrode were the methods used. One hundred ninety-four patients with duodenal ulcers, 78 with gastric ulcers, 15 with carcinoma of the stomach and 15 control patients were studied. The duodenal ulcer patients showed significant differences from the controls in pH, mEq/liter and mEq/hr in basal and poststimulation samples. There were statistical differences between duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer patients. The studies indicated that the ability of the patient to neutralize acid may be just as important as acid production. It is believed that this study demonstrates the significance of acid in production of duodenal ulcer. However, the range is so wide that it cannot be used for differential diagnosis
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