[Side effects after stimulation of gastric secretion with pentagastrin (author's transl)]

Application of pentagastrin (by infusion, by intramuscular and subcutaneous injection) in the usual dose of 6 mug/kg/hr revealed a short lasting enhancement in frequency of pulse-rate and a slight rise in blood-pressure (5 to 10 mmHg), which exceeded the alteration of pulserate, in 30 healthy volunteers with normal blood-pressure. The enhancement of pulse-rate is considered as a psychogenic reaction to injection. The reason of the rise in blood-pressure, which immediately occured and was of long standing duration, is a pharmacodynamic effect obviously. An extensive increase in blood-pressure, collaps, bradycardia or tachycardia was not observed during 120 investigations. We were not able to detect any significant changes in a number of components of serum or blood. The influence on the values of SGOT, LAP, urea, the red and white blood cell count as well as on hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit cannot be excluded however.