Hypergastrinemia in rheumatoid arthritis.

Fasting hypergastrinemia was noted in 13-41% of 82 of outpatients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis. No differences were noted between the normogastrinemic and the hypergastrinemic subjects in their age, sex, duration of rheumatoid disease, serological status, or medications. The food-stimulated gastrin response was 117 mg/L, or 216% above the basal levels, and the integrated gastrin response was increased to the level previously reported in patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer disease. These results suggest that hypergastrinemia is a feature of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the gastrin response to food may be abnormal in some rheumatoid patients.