Aggressive factors or altered protective capacity of the gastric mucosa in chronic liver disease.
This study was conducted to assess the behavior of various parameters involved in mucosal protection (mucus and prostaglandins) and of presumed aggressive factors (hydrochloric acid and Helicobacter (Campylobacter) pylori in 20 patients with chronic liver disease, with or without clinical and instrumental signs of portal hypertension. The two groups of patients showed no difference from controls with respect to gastric acid secretion and the presence of antral Helicobacter pylori. The amount of gastric soluble mucus was reduced and the quality altered in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. The mucus of subjects with chronic active liver disease with no gross signs of portal hypertension showed significant qualitative differences from that of normal controls. The prostaglandin E2 concentration in the gastric mucosa was lower than normal in both groups of liver disease patients, but prostaglandin F2 alpha did not appear to differ between patients and controls.
Parodi
M C
MC
Dept. of Gastroenterology, S. Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy.
Vigneri
S
S
Marugo
M
M
De Angelis
P
P
D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*
D011453:Prostaglandins