What Are the Causes of Elevated Gastrin Levels?

Gastrin is an important gastrointestinal hormone that is mainly secreted by G cells. G cells are typical open cells, with the gastric antrum most, followed by the fundus, duodenum, and jejunum. D cells of human islets can also secrete gastrin.

Gastrin

Gastrin is also known as

1. Stimulate the proliferation of gastric mucosal cells;

2. Stimulate parietal cells to secrete hydrochloric acid and main cells to secrete pepsinogen;

3. Stimulate gastric antrum and bowel movements and delay gastric emptying;

4. Stimulate pancreatic juice, bile and intestinal fluid secretion; ^[1]

Hypergastrinemia: There are two types of hypergastrinemia, including hypergastric acid and hypergastrinemia, and hypogastric or non-acid hypergastrinemia.

Hypergastric acid and hypergastrinemia: seen in gastrinoma, excessive formation of gastric mucosa, residual left gastric antrum, and chronic renal failure. After the recovery of renal function, most gastrin levels return to normal. If it does not recover, it often indicates the possibility of atrophic gastritis.

Hypogastric or non-acid hypergastrinemia: seen in gastric ulcers, type A atrophic gastritis, vagus nerve resection, hyperthyroidism.

Hypogastrinemia: seen in type B atrophic gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastrin reactivity enhancement is seen in cardiac achalasia and duodenal ulcer.

Diminished gastrin reactivity is seen in sclerosis.

In gastric cancer, the change of gastrin is related to the lesion. In gastric cancer, the serum gastrin is significantly increased, and in gastric antrum cancer, the gastrin secretion is reduced.

In chronic renal failure, the inactivation of gastrin by the kidneys is reduced, resulting in gastric ulcers.