Hypochlorhydria

Background:

A 50-year-old female requested a Heidelberg pH Test to evaluate her stomach acidity.

Medical Issues:

1. History of H-Pylori gastritis - treated.

2. Colonic polyps.

3. Long-standing bloating and gas, after meals, which can make her look 7-8 months pregnant.

A recent endoscopy required multiple biopsies. She had biopsy-related pains lasting 2-3 weeks after the procedure, which is quite unusual.

Symptoms at the time of the Heidelberg pH Diagnostic Test:

1. Right Upper Quadrant Pains - recent ultrasound of abdomen showed no gallstones, however, it did report dilation of the common bile dict.

2. Nausea, coming on more than 5 hours after eating, lasting for 3 hours duration,

3. GERD type symptoms

Her gastroenterologist wanted to trial a PPI for GERD. She was apprehensive to do so before having the test to establish if her stomach acidity.

The Heidelberg pH Test Results:

Comments:

• This is Hypochlorhydria. This test starts with a fasting baseline pH of 0.5, the acidic side of normal. The neutralizing challenge did not result in acidification for 51 minutes (slow production). At this juncture, Two 500mg Betaine capsules were administered, 20 minutes later they resulted in reasonable acidification, without any symptom of heartburn.

• The betaine test was also used to confirm that the capsule was indeed still in the stomach, and had not migrated into the small bowel.