SURFACE HYDROPHOBICITY OF GASTRIC-MUCOSA IN PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE - RELATIONSHIP TO GASTRITIS AND CAMPYLOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

The hydrophobicity of biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa in 228 dyspeptic subjects undergoing diagnostic endoscopy was assessed by measuring the plateauadvancing contact angle of saline drops using a goniometer. Subjects with duodenal ulcers (n = 49) and gastric ulcers (n = 17) had significantly lower mean contact angles than controls (n = 124) without ulcer (57 ° in duodenal ulcer, 59 ° in gastric ulcer vs. 66 ° in controls; p < 0.0001). There was no change in contact angle after healing with H2-receptor antagonists by comparison with pretreatment (59 ° vs. 56 ° for duodenal ulcer, n = 15; 57 ° vs. 59 ° for gastric ulcer, n = 5). Controls with gastritis had lower contact angles than those without (61 °, n = 50, vs. 70 °, n = 63; p < 0.0001). The presence of Campylobacter pylori was associated with a significant decrease in contact angle in controls (59 °, n = 39, vs. 70 °, n = 75; p < 0.0001). © 1990.