Mucosal pepsin and group I pepsinogen concentration in peptic ulcer patients with a history of bleeding

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical correlations between group I pepsinogens (PGI) and pepsin concentrations (determined on tissue samples of gastric mucosa) and the gender, blood group, family history of ulcer, smoking habit, alcohol intake and previous bleeding episodes in peptic ulcer patients. Patients: The study involved 195 patients (43 with gastric ulcer, 152 with duodenal ulcer) showing endoscopic evidence of healed ulcer. Design: One biopsy sample was obtained from the upper part of the body of the stomach in each patient for the determination of PGI and pepsin concentrations. Statistical evaluation was based on Wilcoxon's test. Results: Gender, blood group and family history of ulcer did not modify PGI or pepsin levels, though duodenal ulcer patients with a history of bleeding showed increased PGI (30.65, range; 5.5-187.0 versus 17.35, 6.5-280.6) and pepsin (90.0, 10-215 versus 57.5, 6.8-230) concentrations. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is no correlation between genetically related factors, such as gender, blood group and family history, and peptic activity in the gastric mucosa but emphasized a relationship with bleeding which is an important complication in ulcer disease.