title: Chronic hypergastrinemia: causes and consequences.
abstract: The hormone gastrin plays 2 important roles in gastrointestinal physiology--1 as a major factor in meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and the other as a trophic hormone for epithelial and enterochromaffin cells. These roles are exaggerated to the point of pathology under conditions of chronic hypergastrinemia as exemplified by the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and pernicious anemia. More recently, the concern about the potential risk of chronic hypergastrinemia has risen because of the widespread use of proton pump inhibitors for maintenance therapy in reflux esophagitis. For this reason, we present a concise overview of the origin, causes, and potential risks of chronic hypergastrinemia.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Center for Clinical Health Policy and Durham VA, Durham, North Carolina, USA. orlan002@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Lane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lenard
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Orlando
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015408:Gastrinoma / Q000097:blood*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D012307:Risk Factors; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005755:Gastrins; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors