[Basal and food-stimulated blood gastrin in duodenal ulcer]

It has been demonstrated that the basal gastrin level in the blood of patients with peptic ulcer of the duodenum is similar to that in normal subjects. Food stimulation raises blood gastrin in normal subjects and patients. However, in patients, the peak of the blood hormone rise is higher, with this rise lasting for a longer time. Besides, the total output of the hormone is greater. These changes are most marked during an incomplete disease remission, being less remarkable when exacerbation gets attenuated and during a complete remission. A correlation has been noticed between the acid-forming function of the stomach and basal blood gastrin level that increases as the acid content in gastric juice descends. In patients experiencing a complete remission and in those in the stage of an incomplete remission and attenuated exacerbation, a direct correlation was ascertained between the stimulated hypergastrinemia and duration of the intragastral pH elevation in response to food intake. It is suggested that in peptic ulcer of the duodenum, hypergastrinemia occurs as a defence reaction aimed at the activation of trophic processes in the mucous membrane of the gastroduodenal zone.