HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN DUODENAL-ULCER

Objective. To assess the effects of infection with Helicobacter pylori on gastrin secretion and accelerated gastric emptying in duodenal ulcer patients. Design and method. Twenty duodenal ulcer patients infected with H. pylori were divided into two groups of 10. Serum gastrin levels and gastric emptying (acetaminophen method) were measured in one group before and after clearance of H. pylori with triple therapy, and in the other group before and after a 2-week period without triple therapy (controls). Results. in the cleared group, serum gastrin release declined following treatment; the fasting serum gastrin level fell from 84.8 to 72.6 pg/ml and the integrated gastrin response from 3.6 to 3.0 ng/ml per min. At the same time, gastric emptying slowed from 11.2 to 9.4-mu-g/ml (acetaminophen method normal level 9.4 +/- 0.7-mu-g/ml). There was no significant change in the control group in any of these parameters. Conclusion. H. pylori colonization increases the release of gastrin and may thus accelerate gastric emptying in duodenal ulcer patients.