The Role of Serum Gastrin in the Secretion of Calcitonin: Studies in Patients with Pernicious Anaemia and in Healthy Subjects

Basal concentrations of serum gastrin and serum calcitonin were measured in 38 patients with pernicious anaemia and in 32 healthy control subjects. The fasting level of serum gastrin was greatly elevated in 32 patients and was within normal range in 6 patients, the difference between pernicious anaemia patients and controls being highly significant (P less than 0.001). No significant difference between fasting serum calcitonin concentrations in patients and healthy subjects was found. Furthermore, these hormones were studied before and after a beef meal in eight of the patients with hypergastrinaemia and in six healthy control subjects. After the meal serum gastrin concentrations increased significantly from basal values in both patients and controls, the peak values being reached 60 and 30 min after the meal, respectively. No significant changes in serum calcitonin concentrations were observed after the meal in either group. In five patients a transient rise in serum calcitonin occurred 5-10 min after ingestion, beginning, however, before any rise in serum gastrin was observed. Our results indicate that serum gastrin is without influence on calcitonin release, either in hypergastrinaemic patients with pernicious anaemia or in healthy subjects.