Medical expert of the article
New publications
Change in gastric contents in diseases
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The amount of gastric contents may increase with peptic ulcer and hyperacid gastritis; reflex increase can be observed during attacks of acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis. A decrease in the amount of gastric juice is observed with accelerated gastric emptying and with a decrease in secretion.
Mucus in significant quantities is found in gastritis and ulcer disease, and with leukocytes or their nuclei, cells of the cylindrical epithelium, deposits of hydrochloric acid hematin - with organic lesions of the mucosa, gastritis, peptic ulcer, polyposis, cancer.
An increase in the concentration of pepsin in gastric juice is characteristic of peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus. Reduction or total absence of pepsin in gastric juice is detected with atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, hyperthyroidism, Addison's disease, intoxications.
The concentration of free hydrochloric acid decreases with hypoacid gastritis. Complete absence of free hydrochloric acid (achlorhydria) is revealed in chronic anatide gastritis, neoplasm of stomach, intoxications, infectious diseases. In the absence of free hydrochloric acid, it is desirable to determine the presence and amount of bound hydrochloric acid in order to determine the degree of achlorhydria. In the absence of free, but the presence of bound hydrochloric acid, ascertain the relative achlorhydria; in the absence of both, absolute achlorhydria. The absence of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the stomach contents is called achilia. Achilia is possible with chronic atrophic gastritis, malignant neoplasms, Addison-Birmer anemia, with infectious diseases, intoxications, diabetes, hypovitaminosis (rarely).
An increase in the concentration of free hydrochloric acid is revealed in chronic hyperacid gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
The amount of bound hydrochloric acid increases with the increase in the stomach amount of substrates for its binding (food, pus, mucus, blood, tissue decay), that is, with stagnant phenomena, inflammation, tumors, etc.
Changes in microscopic examination. When microscopic examination of gastric contents in it distinguish elements of stagnation, elements of inflammation and elements of atypia.
Congestive gastric juice, in which lactic acid is formed (the result of the vital activity of lactic acid ferment rods or the product of the cancer tumor metabolism), is accompanied by the appearance of plant fiber (undigested and digestible), fat, sarcin, yeast, epithelium, leukocytes, erythrocytes. Lactic acid fermentation sticks usually appear in the absence of free hydrochloric acid. The increase in the number of goblet cells, especially in the zone of gastrointestinal anastomosis, is a sign of gastritis. The pronounced atypia of epithelial cells (proliferation with pronounced atypia) is characteristic for the initial stage of malignant growth. In the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, polymorphism of nuclei, nuclear atypia is important, which is also revealed in solid cancer, colloid cancer, malodifferentiated or undifferentiated stomach cancer.
[