[Current facts on ulcer disease].

In the second half of this century, some important changes characterized the peptic ulcer history. The overall incidence of ulcer disease markedly decreased, with some differences in the various geographic areas and according to socioeconomic development of population. Peptic ulcer seems now more frequent in women and in the elderly patients, in comparison with the past.

Usefulness of carcinoembryonic antigen measurement in gastric juice of patients with gastric disorders.

Due to conflicting reports on the role of CEA measurement in the gastric juice of patients with gastric malignancy, we have assessed gastric CEA levels in a variety of both nonmalignant and malignant lesions of the stomach. The average gastric CEA levels were higher in patients with gastric ulcer and gastric cancer than in healthy subjects and those with duodenal ulcer. In addition, the frequencies of abnormally high values were significantly (P less than 0.