Is Duodenitis Always a Peptic Disease?

Acid secretory behavior as well as gastrin levels were evaluated in 38 cases of chronic duodenitis. Basal HCl secretion was normal in 39% of cases, hypochlorhydria was observed in 29%, and hyperchlorhydria in 32%. Maximal acid output was normal in 71% of patients with duodenitis, decreased in 19%, and increased in 10%. Fasting serum gastrin was always within normal limits. The secretory behavior correlated with age but not with the histological pattern of duodenal mucosa. In chronic duodenitis, normal secretion or hypochlorhydria is the prevailing finding. This does not exclude the possibility of a peptic pathogenetic mechanism which could be involved in the rare cases of chronic duodenitis with hyperchlorhydria. Acid-peptic disease is not etiopathogenetic in the causation of most cases of chronic duodenitis.