Gastric acid and pepsin secretory responses to graded doses of pentagastrin were measured in 12 Chagas’ disease patients and 18 control subjects, and in 7 Chagas’ disease patients and 6 controls the study was repeated with an infusion of bethanecol. Calculated maximal outputs of acid and pepsin (Vmax) and responsiveness (D50) of the acid- and pepsin-secreting cells to pentagastrin were lower in the chagasics. Bethanecol had no significant effect on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretions in controls. The impairment of responsiveness of the gastric secretory cells in Chagas’ disease patients was fully corrected by bethanecol.

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