FASTING SERUM GASTRIN IN PRIMARY HYPER-PARATHYROIDISM AND IN CHRONIC HYPER-CALCEMIA

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (6) , 472-477
Abstract
To investigate the frequency of fasting hypergastrinemia in primary hyperparathyroidism (A) and in chronic hypercalcemia (B), in 40 and 16 patients respectively gastrin, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum C levels were measured and compared with those of a control group (40 subjects) with similar distribution of sex and age. Possible linear relationships between these parameters were investigated. Notwithstanding significant differences in Ca and PTH levels between the 3 groups (A: high PTH, high Ca2+; B: low PTH, high Ca2+; C: normal PTH and Ca2+ levels), no significant difference in gastrin levels were found. In the 1st group, a marked increase of gastrin was observed in 1 patient, very probably affected by a gastrin-secreting tumor (positive secretin test). While no linear relationship between PTH and gastrin values was present in all the 3 groups, a significant correlation between serum Ca and fasting gastrin was detectable in the group A, ruling-out the above mentioned patient. PTH apparently does not modify gastrin levels and chronic moderate hypercalcemia does not raise serum fasting gastrin, at least in clinical conditions. The frequency of hypergastrinemia in hyperparathyroidism is very low and its seems to be present only in patients with gastrin-secreting tumors.