Comparison of the Effect of Histamine and Pentagastrin on Gastric Secretion in Ulcer Patients

Abstract

The effect of subcutaneous histamine dihydrochloride (24 μg per kg body weight) and pentagastrin (6 μg per kg) on volume and gastric acid output was compared in 18 ulcer patients. The time course for the volume or acid response to histamine and pentagastrin was very similar. Neither volume output nor acid output, expressed as maximal output per 15 minutes or peak 30-minute output independent of time after the injection of the stimulants, differed significantly. A highly significant correlation was found between both the volumes and the acid outputs after histamine and pengagastrin.