CORRELATION BETWEEN SERUM PEPSINOGEN CONCENTRATION AND GASTRIC-ACIDITY MEASURED BY 24-H PH MONITORING

The relationship between the intragastric pH measured by 24 h pH monit oring system and the serum pepsinogen I/II ratio was studied in 68 cas es. When pepsinogen I/II ratio was compared with pH 3.0 holding time ( the percentage time during which the gastric pH is above 3.0), there w as a negative correlation between these two parameters (correlation co efficient r=-0.62, P<0.001). Furthermore, there was also a strong nega tive correlation between the early morning (from 03.00 to 06.00 h) gas tric pH and pepsinogen I/II ratio (r=-0.76, P<0.001). Accordingly, by simply measuring serum pepsinogen I and II, it may be possible to infe r gastric acidity and to obtain the information concerning the early m orning intragastric pH.