[Serum gastrin following renal transplantation]

Basal and postprandial serum gastrin concentrations were determined in 26 renal transplant patients and compared with the values found in 5 normal subjects. All subjects received a solid test meal consisting of 25 g protein, 47 g fat and 58 g carbohydrates. All patients were in a non-uraemic state and received combined prednisolone-azathioprine treatment. 5 patients had a peptic ulcer. There was no significant difference in the mean serum gastrin concentrations of the two groups, either with respect to basal or postprandial values. On calculating mean gastrin concentrations of patients given high (over 20 mg daily) or low (under 20 mg daily) prednisolone dosage, again no difference was found in comparison with the normal subjects. Similarly, no difference was observed in the mean serum gastrin levels between ulcer patients and normal controls. We conclude from these results that, in contrast to the findings in chronic uraemic patients, gastrin metabolism is normal in renal transplant recipients and that the high indicence of gastrointestinal complications, especially peptic ulcer, cannot be due to a disturbed gastrin metabolism in these patients.