[Histological analysis of the gastric mucosa, enterochromaffin cells and gastrin-producing cells in endoscopic biopsies of patients with achlorhydria].

Twenty achlorhydric patients and five controls were submitted to gastric endoscopic biopsies in order to study the histological pattern of the gastric mucosa and the number of enterochromaffin (EC) and gastrin (G) cells of the antral mucosa. The histological changes of the oxyntic mucosa of achlorhydric patients were variable being the predominant pattern the severe chronic atrophic gastritis. The antral mucosa was normal in appearance or revealed mild degree of gastritis. In the most achlorhydric patients the antral EC cell number was decreased when compared to the controls and the G cell number were relatively numerous. The results of the present work are suggestive of an increased G:EC cell ratio in achlorhydric patients.