Effects of H2 blocker on EGG of duodenal ulcer patients

Abstract

AIM: It has been supposed that high EGG amplitude might be associated with hyperacidity although the mechanism is not clear. The purpose of this study was to compare the EGG changes before and after the use of H₂ receptor blocker-cemitidine, in order to identify the relations of EGG changes and gastric acidity.

METHODS: 20 cases of duodenal ulcer (DU) diagnosed endoscopically were included with mean age of 43.8 years. (1) Antacid was discontinued for at least 24 h, and the subjects were fasted in the morning for EGG. (2) EGG was recorded with LMS-2B physiological recorder. After the basic EGG (fasting state) was recorder for 60 min. 0.4 g of cemitidine was injected intramuscularly. 30 min. later, EGG recording was continued for another 60 min.

RESULTS: (1) Frequency: basic and after treatment with cemitidine were 2.63 ± 0.5/min, and 2.86 ± 0.31/min), respectively (P < 0.001). (2) Amplitude: basic and after cemitidine were 428.90 ± 298.82 μV and 465.90 ± 313.63 μV, respectively (P < 0.001). Both the frequency and amplitude were slightly increased statistically, but the individual variation did exist.

CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that H₂ blocker failed to decrease the EGG frequency and amplitude and this phenomenon raise the controversial issue about the relation of hyperacidity and high amplitude of EGG.

Key Words: Electrogastrogram; Cemitidine; H₂ blocker