Skip to main content
PMC home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1963 Jun;4(2):106–111. doi: 10.1136/gut.4.2.106

The serum pepsinogen level with special reference to the histology of the gastric mucosa

O A A Bock, G Arapakis, L J Witts, W C D Richards
PMCID: PMC1413432  PMID: 18668756

Abstract

Determination of the serum pepsinogen level is simple and the method gives consistent results. The serum pepsinogen level remains steady when the stomach is actively secreting pepsin. Age and sex do not greatly affect the serum pepsinogen concentration.

Serum pepsinogen levels can be correlated with the histological appearances of the gastric mucosa. The parietal cells appear to be more sensitive to injury than the chief cells. The serum pepsinogen levels of patients with pernicious anaemia are very low.

Estimation of the serum pepsinogen level is likely to prove a useful screening test for severe atrophic gastritis and gastric atrophy.

Full text

PDF
106

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bock O. A., Richards W. C., Witts L. J. The relationship between acid secretion after augmented histamine stimulation and the histology of the gastric mucosa. Gut. 1963 Jun;4(2):112–114. doi: 10.1136/gut.4.2.112. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CHINN A. B. Studies on a blood serum proteolytic enzyme with particular reference to gastric secretory function. Gastroenterology. 1953 Sep;25(1):14–23. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DOIG R. K., FUNDER J. F., WEIDEN S. Serial gastric biopsy studies in a case of duodenal ulcer treated by deep x-ray therapy. Med J Aust. 1951 Jun 9;1(23):828–830. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. EDWARDS K., JEPSON R. P., WOOD K. F. Value of plasma pepsinogen estimation. Br Med J. 1960 Jan 2;1(5165):30–32. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5165.30. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. GILLESPIE I. E., BOWEN D. J. The gastric secretion of pepsin in man. Gut. 1962 Sep;3:255–259. doi: 10.1136/gut.3.3.255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GLASS G. B., SPEER F. D., NIEBURGS H. E., ISHIMORI A., JONES E. L., BAKER H., SCHWARTZ S. A., SMITH R. Gastric atrophy, atrophic gastritis, and gastric secretory failure. Correlative study by suction biopsy and exfoliative cytology of gastric mucosa, paper electrophoretic and secretory assays of gastric secretion, and measurements of intestinal absorption and blood levels of vitamin B12. Gastroenterology. 1960 Oct;39:429–453. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HIRSCHOWITZ B. I. Pepsinogen in the blood. J Lab Clin Med. 1955 Oct;46(4):568–579. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HOAR C. S., Jr, BROWNING J. R. Plasma pepsinogen in peptic-ulcer disease and other gastric disorders; a clinical and laboratory evaluation. N Engl J Med. 1956 Jul 26;255(4):153–158. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195607262550401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KAY A. W. Effect of large doses of histamine on gastric secretion of HCI; an augmented histamine test. Br Med J. 1953 Jul 11;2(4827):77–80. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.4827.77. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. MIRSKY A., FUTTERMAN P., KAPLAN S., BROH-KAHN R. H. Blood plasma pepsinogen. I. The source, properties, and assay of the proteolytic activity of plasma at acid reactions. J Lab Clin Med. 1952 Jul;40(1):17–26. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. MIRSKY A., FUTTERMAN P., KAPLAN S. Blood plasma pepsinogen. II. The activity of the plasma from normal subjects, patients with duodenal ulcer, and patients with pernicious anemia. J Lab Clin Med. 1952 Aug;40(2):188–199. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. NOLAN K. E. Serum pepsinogen levels: relation to gastric secretion and gastric biopsy. Med J Aust. 1958 Dec 20;45(25):831–833. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. POLINER I. J., SPIRO H. M. The independent secretion of acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor by the human stomach. Gastroenterology. 1958 Feb;34(2):196–209. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. SIEVERS M. L., FISCHER G. L. Indirect gastric secretory studies; a comparison of tubeless gastric analysis and plasma pepsinogen determination as screening procedures. Am J Dig Dis. 1957 Jul;2(7):363–376. doi: 10.1007/BF02231348. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SIEVERS M. L., GALLAGHER N. I. Interrelationship of acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor production: an indirect gastric secretory study. Gastroenterology. 1959 Aug;37:182–187. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. SPIRO H. M., RYAN A. E., JONES C. M. The relation of blood pepsin to gastric secretion, with particular reference to anacidity and achylia. Gastroenterology. 1956 Apr;30(4):563-79; discussion, 580-2. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. SPIRO H. M., SCHWARTZ R. D. Superficial gastritis; a cause of temporary achlorhydria and hyperpepsinemia. N Engl J Med. 1958 Oct 2;259(14):682–684. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195810022591406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. VAN GOIDSENHOVEN G., WILKOFF L., KIRSNER J. B. Serum and urine pepsinogen and gastric pepsin; simultaneous analyses for 24-hour periods in normal persons and in patients with duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and achlorhydria. Gastroenterology. 1958 Mar;34(3):421–435. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. VICKERS H. E., KENNEDY M. P. Diagnostic value of a single plasma pepsinogen estimation. An assessment in 500 cases. Br Med J. 1962 May 26;1(5290):1453–1454. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5290.1453. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES