Blood gastrin changes in the late postoperative period after proximal gastric vagotomy

: Changes in serum gastrin levels in the late postoperative period have been studied in 24 patients with non-stenotic duodenal ulcer who underwent proximal gastric vagotomy. Twenty healthy volunteers were used as a control group. Serum gastrin levels were determined under basal conditions and after a high protein meal stimulation. Both measurements were done in the preoperative, early postoperative (12th day) and late postoperative periods (X = 5.5 yrs.). Regarding basal serum gastrin levels, the results show mean values of 46.2 pg/ml in the preoperative, 61.6 pg/ml in the early postoperative, 73.9 pg/ml in the late postoperative and 51 pg/ml in the control group. Early and late postoperative period values show statistical significant differences when compared with preoperative values (p < 0.05), but not with the control group ones. Stimulated gastrin levels show mean values of 75.7 pg/ml in the preoperative, 99.1 pg/ml in the early postoperative, 134.1 pg/ml in the late postoperative and 73.4 pg/ml in the control group. Late postoperative values show statistical significant differences when compared with preoperative and early postoperative values (p < 0.05), and also when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Possible causes and the physiopathological effects of these variations are discussed.