Gastric mucosa in acute viral hepatitis.

In acute viral hepatitis, gastric biopsy and augmented histamine test were performed in 63 patients. Gastric histology was abnormal in 12 of 63 (19%) patients; 3 with superficial and 9 with atrophic gastritis. Maximal acid output was less than 10 mEq/h in 35 of 63 (55.5%) patients. Acid load tests were performed in 23 patients measuring H+, K+, Na+ fluxes; the results showed increased loss of acid from lumen to mucosa in 16 of 23 (69.6%) patients, indicating damage to the gastric mucosal barrier.