Studies on serum gastrin concentrations after test meal stimulation in patients suffering from bronchial asthma

In patients suffering from bronchial asthma serum gastrin concentrations were measured before the feeding of a standard meal and at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after. All subjects studied were divided into 2 main groups: I. Those not receiving corticosteroids and II. Those undergoing long-term treatment with corticosteroids. Results obtained from these two groups were compared to those found in 32 healthy persons. In the group I a statistically significant increase in serum gastrin concentrations was seen in subjects with the atopic form of bronchial asthma, before test meal ingestion and 15, 30 and 60 min after, where as in subjects with non atopic form of bronchial asthma an increase in serum gastrin concentration was found before the feeding of test meal and 15, 60, 90 and 120 min after. In all subjects suffering from both forms of bronchial asthma and belonging to group II, serum gastrin concentrations were significantly elevated in comparison with healthy persons. This increase in serum gastrin level was greater in subjects with non atopic for of bronchial asthma. Patients having contracted complications associated with corticosteroids administration presented serum gastrin levels higher than those without complications. Oral administration of corticosteroids resulted in more intensive stimulation of gastrin release than parenteral administration.