[Gastric acid secretion in children with duodenal ulcer].

Gastric acid secretion was studied in 17 children with primary duodenal ulcer (mean age: 10 yrs 4 mo, rang: 4-16). Eight of the 17 children with primary ulcer had chronic evolution and 10 of them had an affected first degree relative. Basal acid output (BAO) and peak acid output under pentagastrin (PAO) were not significantly different in the 17 children (0.094 +/- 0.085 mmol/kg/hr; 0.483 +/- 0.235 mmol/kg/hr) and in 32 adults with duodenal ulcer (0.073 +/- 0.010 mmol/kg/hr; 0.477 +/- 0.021 mmol/kg/hr). BAO and PAO were not significantly different between children with or without chronic ulcer. The BAO and PAO of children with an affected first degree relative were significantly higher than those of children without (p less than 0.05). This study shows that gastric acid secretions are similar in children and adults with duodenal ulcer. The chronicity of duodenal ulcer in childhood is not associated with increased acid secretion. Gastric acid secretion seems to be higher in children with an affected first degree relative than those without.