Gastrin - Serum

Gastrin is a hormone produced by the stomach to aid in the production of gastric acid. It is required by the body to fully absorb nutrients from meals, notably proteins and amino acids. A gastrin serum test checks for high levels of gastrin synthesis in the stomach.

Every day, the stomach produces 2 to 3 litres of acidic fluid. Anything exceeding these thresholds can indicate a number of problems, including:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Infection of the stomach or Helicobacter pylori
• Chronic gastritis
• Use of antacids or medication to treat heartburn
• Overactivity of the stomach's gastrin-producing cells (G-cell hyperplasia)
• History of stomach surgery
• Reduced stomach acid production capacity
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome characterised by the development of a gastrin-producing tumour in the stomach or pancreas

You may also experience digestive issues if your gastrin levels are either too high or too low. Furthermore, if you have recurring symptoms such as stomach aches, diarrhoea, or peptic ulcers, you may be required to take the gastrin test. If you previously had a gastrin-producing tumour removed, your doctor may also conduct a routine gastrin serum test to ensure that the tumour has not come back.

You must fast for approximately 12 hours before the Gastrin serum test. You should also abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before the Gastrin serum test. Inform your doctor if you take any medication, supplements, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and/or illegal narcotics before the Gastrin test.

Certain other aspects can also affect the results of the gastrin serum test. Thus, you should inform your healthcare provider of the following:

• Consume a high-protein diet
• Diabetes and the use of insulin
• Have had or intend to have a peptic ulcer surgery
• Caffeine consumption
• Take antidepressant medication
• Take calcium antacids, supplements, H2-blocking drugs, proton pump inhibitors, or other medications that may affect the capacity to create stomach acid

A variety of circumstances might influence the Gastrin serum test results. They may also differ depending on the laboratory and the benchmark ranges. The average range for gastrin levels is:

• 0-180 pg/mL for adults
• 0-125 pg/mL for children

A very high gastrin level usually results in a disorder known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Extra Gastrin might produce an excess of acid within the digestive tract. This causes diarrhoea and ulcers in the stomach and the small intestine. However, Zollinger Ellison syndrome is fully curable.

Nevertheless, the first step is to get a Gastrin serum test, as ordered by your medical provider. Apollo 24/7 offers a Gastrin serum test at an affordable price. You simply need to book one through the website.

Once the results are in, your medical provider can offer you appropriate treatment plans, including:

• Getting rid of as much of the liver tumour as possible through debulking
• Using embolization or radiofrequency ablation to destroy the tumour
• Liver transplant
• Chemotherapy to decrease tumour development
• Alleviating cancer symptoms by injecting medicines into the tumour
   

Medically reviewed by Dr. Naveen Polavarapu, Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad