title: Time-dependent changes in serum gastrin measurements after parathyroidectomy.
abstract: A prospective study involving 7 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and hypergastrinaemia was conducted to assess the time-dependent change in serum gastrin value before and after parathyroidectomy and to determine at which postoperative stage persistent hypergastrinaemia may be indicative of an associated gastrinoma (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). Five of the 7 patients had hypergastrinaemia in the early postoperative period. One patient had a strikingly high serum gastrin level pre-operatively (1,500 pg/ml). The mean serum gastrin value declined to within the normal range 6 weeks after parathyroidectomy, except in 1 patient who had a gastrinoma. It is concluded that hypergastrinaemia in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism should only be considered significant if pre-operative gastrin levels are strikingly supranormal and/or levels fail to normalise by the 6th postoperative week.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Weltman
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wing
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Myburgh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins