Adenosine deaminase activity in the gastric mucosa in patients with gastric ulcer. Effects of ranitidine and sucralfate.

Adenosine deaminase activity was studied in the gastric mucosa of patients with peptic ulcer in relation to ulcer localisation and treatment with ranitidine or sucralfate. Enzyme activities observed in the corpus mucosa were higher at a distance of over 2 cm from the ulcer margin than that recorded close to the ulcer. A significant decrease in adenosine deaminase activity was found after treatment with ranitidine but not with sucralfate. In the antral mucosa, enzyme activity was constant in all the groups observed. The evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity in gastric mucosa can be useful for studies of pathologic changes in the stomach.