Comparison of basal gastric acid and pepsin output in controls vs. active peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Quantitative basal and pentagastrin stimulated acid and pepsin outputs were determined in a group of 15 patients without peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and in 11 patients admitted to hospital with endoscopically proven PUD (two gastric and nine duodenal). While there were statistically significant differences in both acid and pepsin outputs in both the basal and maximally stimulated states, only the basal pepsin output clearly separated the groups in this small preliminary study. No patient produced more than 100,000 pU./hr. in the basal state unless an active peptic ulcer was present; no patient with an active ulcer produced less than 100,000 pU./hr.