Serum pepsinogen I and the state of gastric mucosa in an Estonian population sample.

Seventy-seven adult subjects from a rural population were examined by gastroscopic biopsy and serum pepsinogen I (PG I) determination. A new radioimmunoassay method for PG I determination, based on enzymatic iodination and the double antibody solid-phase technique, was used. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.488, p less than 0.001) between the state of the fundal mucosa and the PG I level was observed. In persons with severe or moderate forms of atrophic fundal gastritis the PG I values were notably lower than those of the other groups. Good differentiation of persons with normal fundal mucosa and with severe fundal gastritis was obtained. In subjects with a normal fundal mucosa the PG I values were significantly higher in men (130 +/- 48 micrograms/l) than in women (87 +/- 17 micrograms/l). A decline in serum PG I level with age was observed. In patchy gastritis the PG I value is helpful in assessing the state of the fundal mucosa.