Can 99mTc-pertechnetate be used to assess the secretion of gastric acid in pernicious anemia?

The gastric secretion of 99mTc-pertechnetate as a means of assessing parietal cell function was investigated in 12 pernicious anemia (PA) patients with histamine-fast achlorhydria. Twelve control subjects were either normal volunteers or patients proven not to have either PA or any other gastrointestinal disease. The results indicated that, while the stomachs of PA patients secreted no hydrochloric acid, they continued to secrete 99mTc-pertechnetate, indicating that 99mTcO4 - is secreted not by parietal cells alone or else not by parietal cells at all. The gastric pertechnetate activity, therefore, cannot be used as an index of gastric acid secretory activity in PA.