Urinary Excretion of 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in Normal Korean Adults and in Patients with Peptic Ulcer

ABSTRACT

Urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was determined in 114 normal Korean adults and in 110 patients suffering from peptic ulcer. The amount of urinary 5-HIAA excreted during a period of 24 hours is fairly constant in each individual but varies widely between individuals. The mean daily output of urinary 5-HIAA in normal Korean adults is 1.93 +/-0.86 (S.D.) mg, which is similar to that found in normal Chinese adults. There is no significant difference between the urinary excretion of 5-HIAA in normal subjects and in patients with peptic ulcer. Furthermore, the amount of urinary 5-HIAA seems to be influenced by neither the sex of the subject nor by the degree of gastric acidity.