[Zinc metabolism in duodenal ulcer].

Zinc concentrations were measured in blood and gastroduodenal mucosa of patients with duodenal ulcer in remission and exacerbation. These were found reduced in plasma but elevated in gastroduodenal mucosa. Healing of the ulcer lesion was associated with positive shifts in zinc metabolism which recovered normal values in ulcer remission. It is concluded that plasma and gastroduodenal levels of zinc reflect the stage of the pathological process in peptic ulcer.