Hypergastrinemia in familial multiple endocrine adenomatosis.

Abstract

Fasting serum gastrin levels of 46 members of 5 families with familial multiple endocrine adenomatosis were measured; 14 patients had hypergastrinemia (a serum gastrin level greater than 200 pg/ml), including all 6 patients with intractable peptic ulcer disease. Eight patients had asymptomatic hypergastrinemia, and 12 of the patients with hypergastrinemia had a history or findings of hyperparathyroidism. Fasting gastrin levels were not significantly correlated with calcium levels. Normal gastrin levels were found in six patients with hyperparathyroidism. Hypergastrinemia was found in six patients with normal or low serum calcium values who were studied after parathyroid surgery. Basal gastric acid hypersecretion and a marked rise in serum gastrin levels on intravenous calcium infusion were associated with fasting hypergastrinemia but were not found with hyperparathyroidism alone in the few patients tested.