Parietal cell antibodies part I. Clinical and pathological studies of parietal cell antibodies

The incidence of parietal cell antibodies (P.C.A.) in patients with various diseases was investigated by complement fixation test (C.F.T.). The relationship between the incidence of P.C.A. and clinical and pathological findings was also investigated. The incidence of P.C.A. with simple atrophic gastritis was 34.8% in total cases, 29.0% in male and 48.1% in female, respectively. The difference between the sexes was statistically significant (p<0.05). The incidence of P.C.A. in superficial gastritis was 37.5%, showing the same incidence as atrophic gastritis. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p<0.05). The incidence in patients with hypo and hyperacidity was 43.0% and 11.8%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant, but that between hypo and normoacidity was not significant (p<0.05). The author postulated the conclusion that the superficial gastritis could be included in the category of atrophie gastritis.