The clinical significance of gastric acid secretion in bilharzial hepatic fibrosis

Abstract

Gastric acid secretion was studied in 19 patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and in 19 healthy controls. The patients had significantly lower volumes and acid output than the control group. After splenectomy and vasoligation, the patients' gastric secretion did not increase significantly. Gastric secretion was similar in 19 patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis who had never experienced any episode of bleeding and in 19 who bled.

Duodenal bacterial overgrowth during treatment in outpatients with omeprazole.

“…This has been claimed to increase the formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds6 although we could not confirm these findings in another study.34 Furthermore, reduced gastric acid secretion may be responsible for a higher incidence of intestinal infections,1 9 such as salmonellosis,3536 cholera,37 and parasitic infections. 38 Such infections have been described in patients treated with cimetidine3239 and ranitidine.36 Recently, Salmonella gastroenteritis has been reported in a patient treated with 20 mg omeprazole.4' Also, reduced gastric acid secretion during treatment with H2 antagonists has been associated with the occurrence of nosocomial infections, in particular pneumonias, in intensive care units.2341 Further studies with high risk patients, such as travellers or patients in intensive care units, are needed to assess these potential risks of omeprazole treatment.…”

Spontaneous Hypochlorhydria in Man: Possible Causes and Consequences

“…It is well recognised that reduced secretion of gastric acid is a predisposing factor to infection with various enteric pathogenic bacteria [16][17][18][19] as well as some parasitic infections including strongyloidiasis [20], Chagas' disease [21] and schistosomiasis [22]. Such infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality.…”