Serum pepsinogen I in relation to some clinical features and complications of duodenal ulcer disease.

Fasting serum pepsinogen 1 was assayed in 60 patients seen at the Kenyatta National Hospital with endoscopy - confirmed active duodenal ulceration. Pepsinogen 1 values were also correlated with some clinical features and complications of this disorder. 54 (90%) of the patients had significantly elevated values when compared with age and sex matched controls. Although elevated values were found in patients with chronic dyspepsia, family history of ulcer dyspepsia, history of gastro-duodenal blood loss and in patients with virulent ulcers, this did not show statistical significance. The possibility of using serum pepsinogen I to identify duodenal ulcer patients and to predict the clinical course and complications of this disorder is discussed.