Effect of large doses of histamine on gastric secretion of HCl

Abstract

The effects of increasing doses of histamine on the gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid have been studied in normal subjects and in patients with duodenal ulcer. The dosage required to effect maximum acid output has been established and the duration of this response determined. An augmented histamine test of gastric secretion, based on these findings, is described. This test, which imposes a uniform and maximum stimulus on the acid-secreting cells, gives consistent results on repeated estimations in any one individual. An analysis has been made of the results of the test in 25 normal subjects, 103 duodenal ulcer cases, and 20 patients with gastric ulcer. © 1953, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.