gastrins and Inflammatory-Bowel-Diseases

Topics: Animals; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Helicobacter; Helicobacter Infections; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of serum gastrin in a group of patients with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and to compare the results with those of a group of normal controls. In 108 consecutive patients with IBD (66 with ulcerative colitis, 32 with Crohn's disease and 10 with indetermined colitis) serum levels of gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay. One hundred and eight normal people were served as controls. The levels of serum gastrin were significantly elevated in patients with Crohn's disease compared to normal controls (74.4 +/- 43.9 pg/ml vs. 47.5 +/- 32.4 pg/ml, P<0.05), irrespectively of the activity of the disease. On the contrary, patients with ulcerative colitis exhibited no significant differences compared to normal controls. Differences between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients were statistically significant (P<0.001). The rate of infection by Helicobacter pylori in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was statistically significantly lower as compared with normal controls (31.7% vs. 55.1%, P<0.001). It is concluded that patients with active or inactive Crohn's disease have increased levels of serum gastrin. This may have implications concerning the high incidence of upper GI lesions found in patients with Crohn's disease despite the very low incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gastrins; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Male; Radioimmunoassay

During the last years interest has focused on the trophic effect of gastrin in colorectal carcinomas. Some reports indicated an increased serum level of gastrin in patients with colorectal adenomas or carcinomas. In a prospective study in 261 patients submitted to colonoscopy fasting serum gastrin concentrations were determined. 91 patients served as control, 89 patients had one or more adenomas, 55 patients suffered from a colorectal carcinoma, 17 had a benign, postoperative stenosis of the colon, and 9 had a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: No regular drug intake, no previous gastric or small bowel operation, no known ulcer disease, no abnormalities in serum calcium, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood urea. Mean gastrin level was 86.63 +/- 23.8 pg/ml in the control, 84.57 +/- 25.1 pg/ml in the adenoma group and 84.6 +/- 24.4 pg/ml in the carcinoma group. No difference of serum gastrin levels were observed regarding sex, age, tumor stage and localisation.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Colonic Diseases; Colonic Polyps; Colorectal Neoplasms; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Obstruction; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications