Establishment of Reference Values for Pepsinogens in Healthy Subjects of the Gansu Province: a Cross-Sectional Study

Background: At present, the pepsinogen reference values applicable to subjects from Gansu province have not been established. Therefore, the current study aimed to establish reference values for PGI, PGII, and the PGI/ PGII ratio in Gansu Province, Northwest China. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Following screening in the physical examination center of Gansu Provincial Hospital, 2,130 healthy subjects were enrolled (age range 18 - 88 years; BMI range 15.35 - 38.89 kg/m(2)) from March 2018 to December 2020. Serum PGI and PG II concentration levels were detected by chemiluminescence. The reference values were defined according to age and gender by non-parametric 95th percentile intervals. Results: The increase in age caused a gradual increase in the levels of PG I and PG II, while PG UPG II ratio gradually decreased. The PG I, PG II and PG UPG II ratio in males were significantly higher than those in females. The reference values for PG I, PG II and PG UPG II ratio in males: < 40 years old were 22.79 - 119.79 ng/mL, 3.02 - 21.57 ng/mL, and 2.99 - 10.25, respectively; >= 40 years old were 17.58 - 125.12 ng/mL, 3.70 - 25.84 ng/mL, and 1.52 - 10.53, respectively. The reference values for PG I, PG II, and PG UPG II ratio in females: < 40 years old were 22.57 - 103.90 ng/mL, 3.17 - 20.73 ng/mL, and 2.28 - 10.46, respectively; >= 40 years old were 14.24 - 117.81 ng/mL, 3.36 - 29.57 ng/mL, and 1.26 - 9.85, respectively. Conclusions: The present study determined the missing reference values of serum PGs for healthy subjects of different gender and ages in Gansu Province.