[Influence of small intestine shunt and small intestine resection on gastrin secretion]

In 10 healthy controls, in 3 patients with subtotal resection of the small intestine and in 7 patients with jejuno-ileal bypass gastric ackd secretion and serum gastrin were determined in the basal state and after stimulation. The patients with short bowel revealed basal and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion in the lower normal range. Hypergastrinaemia, however, was present in these patients in the basal state and after food stimulation of gastrin release, while in patients with jejuno-ileal bypass basal and postprandial serum gastrin concentrations were within the normal range. These data suggest, that hypergastrinaemia in patients with short bowel is due to dimished gastrin catabolism and that the small intestine plays a significant role in gastrin inactivation.