Serum gastrin in patients with azotemia

Gastric acid secretion was determined by a pentagastrin test and serum gastrin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay before and eight times during the first three hours after a test meal in six male azotemic patients and in nine male controls. The mean basal gastric acid secretion was higher, but not significantly so, in the patients than in the controls. The stimulated gastric acid secretion was equal in the two groups. The mean serum gastric concentration was found to be higher in the patient group than in the controls both in the fasting state and after the test meal. The interpretation of the results and the possible relevance of the results in deciding what prophylactic gastro-duodenal operation patients with high ulcer risk should be subjected to prior to kidney transplantation, is discussed.