Diagnostic Value of Serum Gastrin and Epidermal Growth Factor to the Gastric Ulcer Complicated with Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE  To explore the predictive value of serum gastrin (GAS), epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in gastric ulcer complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. STUDY DESIGN A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Emergency, Beijing Jiangong Hospital, China, from January 2019 to June 2020. METHODOLOGY One hundred and twenty-five patients with gastric ulcer and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding were selected as Group A. One hundred and twenty-five patients with gastric ulcer and no upper gastrointestinal bleeding were selected as Group B. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the risk factors of gastric ulcer complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The value of serum GAS, EGF in early diagnosis of gastric ulcer with upper gastrointestinal bleeding was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between Group A and Group B in taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, serum GAS and EGF (all p <0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that raised serum GAS and serum EGF were independent risk factors for gastric ulcer and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (both p <0.001). The ROC area of serum EGF to predict gastric ulcer and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding was 0.810 (95% CI: 0.753-0.867, p <0.001), greater than ROC area of serum GAS. At serum EGF of ≤109.95 pg/mL, had the 84.8%, sensitivity to predict gastric ulcer and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding with specificity of 68.8%. CONCLUSION The predictive value of serum GAS and EGF is high for gastric ulcer complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding; the predictive value of serum EGF is greater than that of serum GAS. Key Words: Gastric ulcer, Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, Serum, Gastrin (GAS), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Logistic regression, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.