Studies on acid protease fractions and gastric mucosal atrophy. 2. Relationship of acid proteases in gastric juice separately determined by alkali treatment and gastric mucosal atrophy.

The relationships of two acid protease groups, alkali labile pepsin (ALP) and alkali stable pepsin (ASP), and gastric mucosal atrophy, were studied. ALP and ASP were determined separately by alkali treatment. The extent of fundic gland atrophy was detected by endoscopic congo red test. The subjects of the study were 10 normal subjects and 64 patients with gastroduodenal disease. In all subjects, both ALP and ASP outputs were increased by tetragastrin administration while ASP:ALP ratio was decreased by the provocation. ALP output was reduced in parallel with the extent of fundic gland atrophy whereas ASP output was kept until the atrophy became severe.