gastrin-releasing-peptide and Diarrhea

Gastrin-releasing peptide immunoreactivity has been seen in functioning endocrine tumours which are recognized as a major cause of secretory diarrhea. The authors describe a case of a 52-year-old woman who had secretory diarrhea (5 L/d) with markedly elevated gastrin-releasing peptide levels associated with islet cell hyperplasia. No tumour could be identified. The diarrhea was controlled by somatostatin analogue.

Topics: Diarrhea; Female; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Humans; Hyperplasia; Injections, Subcutaneous; Islets of Langerhans; Middle Aged; Peptide Biosynthesis; Peptides; Somatostatin