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Abstract
The mucosal enzyme activities of 11 marker enzymes from the brush border, baso-lateral membrane, and lysosomes of 45 patients with an active duodenal ulcer (DU) were determined by analysis of homogenized biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenal bulb and descending duodenum at endoscopy. They were compared with activities measured in 22 controls. In the duodenal bulb lactase (p < 0.005), neutral-w-glucosidase (p < 0.0005), and monoamine oxidase (p < 0.0005) were significantly decreased in DU patients. In the descending duodenum all the brush border enzymes except sucrase were significantly decreased when compared with controls. DU patients with inflammation in the biopsy specimens from the duodenal bulb had decreased levels of lactase (p <0.05), sucrase (p <0.05). neutral-cu-glucosidase (p < 0.05). leucyl-/haphthylamidase (p < 0.05), and acid phosphatases (p < 0.05) when compared with DU patients with normal histology in this region. In the descending duodenum the activities of leucyl-β–naphthylamidase (p < 0.05) were decreased in patients with inflammation compared with those without such histologic changes. DU patients who had taken antacids before the investigation had decreased activities of lactase (p < 0.05) in the descending duodenum when compared with those who had not taken antacids. Activities of lactase (p < 0.005), sucrase (p < 0.005), neutral-a-glucosidase (p < 0.05), and acid p-glucuronidase (p < 0.0005) in the descending duodenum were significantly lower in smokers than in non-smokers with active DU.