gastrins and Skin-Diseases

Information concerning GEP hormones has progressively advanced since the initial discovery of a GEP hormone, secretin, in 1902. Studies in this area flourished with the advent of radioimmunoassay, and have provided an understanding of the secretion, regulation, metabolic actions, and role in certain diseases of major GEP hormones. Measurement of GEP hormones has achieved importance in clinical medicine and allowed understanding of the pathophysiology of several clinical disorders. The decade to come should witness additional advances in this rapidly expanding field.

Topics: Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Cholecystokinin; Diabetes Mellitus; Diarrhea; Endocrine System Diseases; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Hormones; Glucagon; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Motilin; Neoplasms; Neurotensin; Pancreatic Polypeptide; Peptic Ulcer; Secretin; Skin Diseases; Somatostatin; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Two brothers with pachydermoperiostosis, an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by digital clubbing, periosteal new bone formation, coarse facial features with thick, furrowed, and oily skin, presented in their twenties with severe complicated duodenal ulcer disease requiring multiple operations. Their father and one paternal uncle also had pachydermoperiostosis and a past history of ulcer dyspepsia. The mother, one sister, two maternal aunts, and one other paternal uncle were healthy. Both brothers had giant hypertrophic gastritis (Ménétrier's disease). Their pentagastrin-stimulated acid output and fasting and meal-stimulated serum gastrin levels were normal, but their serum pepsinogen I and II levels were markedly elevated. The father had hypochlorhydria and a low serum pepsinogen I/II ratio, suggesting atrophic gastritis. This family study raises the possibility that pachydermoperiostosis, hypertrophic gastropathy, and peptic ulcer may be genetically related.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Dyspepsia; Facial Expression; Female; Gastric Acidity Determination; Gastrins; Gastritis; Gastritis, Hypertrophic; Genes, Dominant; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic; Pepsinogens; Peptic Ulcer; Skin Diseases; Syndrome