Gastric mucosal blood flow was measured in 30 normal persons and 29 patients with gastric ulcer using hydrogen gas generated by electrolysis and contact electrode method. Normal antral crude mucosal blood flow was negatively correlated with age. In patients with active gastric ulcer antral crude mucosal blood flow was significantly lower than in normal, and tended to be higher in healing stage and to be variable in scar stage. Crude mucosal blood flow in ulcer margin as compared with that of the periphery decreased in active stage, increased in healing stage and declined to normal or even lower values in scar stage suggesting that impaired mucosal blood flow played an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer and increased mucosal blood flow contributed to ulcer healing.