[Clinical significance of gastrointestinal hormone]

Gastrointestinal hormones have been used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Although it is assumed that gastrointestinal hormones may be involved in many diseases of the gut. So far, however, we can identify significant roles only in peptic ulcer disease, syndromes caused by gastrointestinal hormone-producing tumors, chronic pancreatitis, and sprue. Future investigation will make the role of gastrointestinal hormone clearer in many diseased states.