The diagnosis of achlorhydria in a patient should not be made before exclusion of conditions that can cause a false positive diagnosis.
Achlorhydria is the absence of free gastric HCl secretion after maximal stimulation.
Causes of a false positive diagnosis for achlorhydria:
(1) failure to test after maximal stimulation
(2) neutralization of secreted acid by food
(3) neutralization of secreted acid by antacids
(3) neutralization of secreted acid by regurgitated (reflux of) pancreatic juices
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
