Tumour necrosis factor alpha antibody affects gastrin release in Crohn disease.
BACKGROUND
Gastrin plays an important role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion in humans. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulates gastrin release from antral G cells in vitro. The aim was to determine whether gastrin release decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha.


METHODS
Twenty-five consecutive patients with Crohn disease (10 M, 15 F; 18 with fistulas) were treated with a single intravenous infusion of the monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha, infliximab, at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Basal and bombesin stimulated gastrin was measured after an overnight fast immediately before and 2 weeks after infliximab. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by serology.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients were H. pylori-negative. Basal plasma gastrin was 21 (16-26) pmol/L before and 19 (15-25) pmol/L after infliximab (NS). Bombesin stimulated gastrin decreased from 49 (40-62) pmol/L before to 36 (33-59) pmol/L (P < 0.005) 2 weeks after infliximab.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrin release in response to bombesin decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with infliximab.
Hopman
W P M
WP
Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. W.Hopman@mdl.umcn.nl
de Jong
D J
DJ
Naber
A H J
AH
Jansen
J B M J
JB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001839:Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019863:Gastrin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005755:Gastrins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005755:Gastrins; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D001839:Bombesin