Serum gastrin and pepsinogens do not correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a matched case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Gastrin and pepsinogens reflect the functional state of the gastric mucosa.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether serum gastrin and pepsinogens correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).


METHODS
In all, 388 patients with heartburn not taking any form of acid suppressive therapy were matched-controlled for age and gender and sub-classified into four groups: group 1 non-erosive reflux disease (NERD); group 2, erosive reflux disease (ERD) Los Angeles (LA) A and B, group 3, ERD LA C and D; group 4 Barrett's oesophagus (BO). Fasting serum was analysed for gastrin 17, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II und Helicobacter pylori using specific EIA tests (GastroPanel; Biohit, Plc).


METHODS
Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference among the four groups with respect for pepsinogen I, but not for pepsinogen II, the pepsinogen I pepsinogen II ratio, H. pylori serology and gastrin levels. Pepsinogen I was the lowest in NERD and the highest in BO (median 91.6, mean +/- standard deviation 106.2 +/- 51.6 vs. median 114.7, mean +/- standard deviation 130.4 +/- 70.6; P = 0.046). Pepsinogen I levels were higher in H. pylori positive subjects. After adjusting for H. pylori status, the differences in pepsinogen I across patient groups were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.298).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum gastrin and pepsinogen I and II do not correlate with the different grades of severity of GERD. The non-invasive GastroPanel is not useful for the differentiation of the various forms of GERD.
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
K
K
Monkemuller
H
H
Neumann
M
M
Nocon
M
M
Vieth
J
J
Labenz
S N
SN
Willich
M
M
Stolte
M
M
Hocker
D
D
Jaspersen
T
T
Lind
P
P
Malfertheiner
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D005755:Gastrins; D010435:Pepsinogens; C013550:gastrin 17