ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI RESTORES ELEVATION OF SERUM GASTRIN-CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE

In order to explore the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infect ion in hypergastrinemia in patients on dialysis, the changes in serum gastrin concentration were examined before and after eradication treat ment for H. pylori, Twenty-seven patients on dialysis were treated for the eradication of H. pylori. Fasting serum gastrin concentrations we re measured by a radioimmunoassay which detects gastrin 17, Ammonia an d pH levels of the gastric juice were also measured. The serum gastrin concentrations were significantly decreased following eradication of H. pylori, and the mean value reached the normal range. The restoratio n of hypergastrinemia was associated with marked reductions of gastric juice ammonia and pH levels, In contrast, patients in whom H. pylori was not eradicated showed no changes in these parameters. In conclusio n, the elevation of the fasting serum gastrin 17 concentration seen in dialysis patients appeared to be attributable to H. pylori infection in the stomach.