Basal serum gastrin levels in normal subjects and in various gastro-intestinal conditions

A total of 1 035 routine serum gastrin investigations was undertaken with a commercially available kit. Levels in 49 normal subjects were similar to those found in 200 patients with duodenal ulcertaion, in 42 patients with gastric ulcers, in 9 patients with carcinoma of the stomach, in 55 patients with chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis, and in 27 with iron deficiency anaemia. Significantly raised levels of serum gastrin were found in 32 patients with megaloblastic anaemias, where the rise in serum gastrin concentration correlated with a fall in maximal acid output, and in 14 patients with complete vagotomies. It is suggested that a level of less than 2 mEq/h of acid after insulin and a raised serum gastrin level are useful criteria of completeness of vagotomy.