[Normal values for basal serum gastrin with and without stimulation]. / Estudio de los valores normales de la gastrina sérica basal y tras estimulación.

In the present work we report a study of the basal gastrin serum levels and stimulated serum gastrin levels after an hyperproteic meal, in a group of 20 healthy volunteers, with neither actual nor previous digestive symptoms. 60% were males, with a mean age of 35, 7 years, the highest percentage (40%) belonging to the fourth decade of life. The procedure used to determine serum gastrin levels is described. The mean value of the 3 samples obtained in basal conditions was of 51.01 pg/ml. The mean value of the 6 samples obtained after the stimulation meal was of 73.4 pg/ml. The results obtained in this study are discussed and compared with the ones of the reviewed literature.

[Determination of basal and stimulated blood gastrin in duodenal ulcer]. / Valoración de la gastrinemia basal y estimulada en la úlcera duodenal.

Serum gastrin levels were measured under basal conditions and after hyperproteic meal stimulation in 24 patients with non-stenotic duodenal ulcer, 78% of them were males with a mean age of 36.4 years. Results were compared with those obtained in 20 volunteers. Basal gastrin levels in patients with duodenal ulcer 46.2 +/- 17.5 pg/ml did not show any significant statistical differences when compared with those in the control group (51.01 +/- 28.1 pg/ml). After meal stimulation gastrin levels at different time intervals, were similar in patients with duodenal ulcer and in the control group. We conclude that serum gastrin does not seem to play a relevant pathogenic role in the development of duodenal ulcer; its measurement is of no value as a biological marker of duodenal ulcer disease.