IMMUNOREACTIVE-SOMATOSTATIN, SUBSTANCE-P, AND CALCITONIN GENE-RELATEDPEPTIDE CONCENTRATIONS OF THE HUMAN GASTRIC-MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH NONULCER DYSPEPSIA AND PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE

Changes in immunoreactive (ir)-somatostatin, substance P, and calciton in gene-related peptide concentrations of the human gastric mucosa wer e examined in subjects with nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and peptic ulcer to clarify the relationship between these peptides and dyspeptic sympt oms. Fifty-six patients with NUD were divided into two subject subgrou ps as follows: 22 patients with upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, an d/or vomiting (motility disorder group) and 34 patients complaining of upper abdominal pain [ulcer-like disorder (UD) group]. These patients were compared with either an age- and sex-matched group of asymptomat ic outpatients without any organic disease (control group: n = 51), or to a group with peptic ulcer (PU group: n = 30). Ir-somatostatin conc entrations of the gastric mucosa were significantly higher in UD group than in PU, motility disorder, or control group, and ir-substance P c oncentrations in the UD group were higher than in the PU group. No dif ference in ir-calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations was obser ved among the four groups. These results indicate that there may be tw o distinct subgroups in NUD, and that NUD is not just a stage within t he spectrum of peptic ulcer disease from the viewpoint of several gast rointestinal-hormone concentrations of the human gastric mucosa.