[The parietal cell mass and acid secretion: Helicobacter pylori does not induce changes in the course of a duodenal ulcer].

Some studies have postulated that Helicobacter pylori (HP) itself might be responsible for hypergastrinemia and acid secretion in duodenal ulcer (DU). In each DU patient parietal cell mass (expressed by a parietal index) and stimulated acid secretion (expressed by maximal acid output) were evaluated. The study has been conducted grouping DU patients in relation to HP infection in antral mucosa. HP infection does not modify parietal cell mass and stimulated acid secretion. Therefore, mild chronic hypergastrinemia induced by HP infection is not sufficient to justify any increase of parietal index and acid secretion. In fact, parietal cells and acid secretion remain higher in DU subjects independently from HP infection.