Symptomatic hypergastrinaemia with achlorhydria: reflief by antrectomy.

A women had hypergastrinaemia associated with the variety of gastritis (Type A) that is associated usually with pernicious anaemia, together with recurring bouts of severe abdominal pain. Fasting serum gastrin levels ranged between 600 and 2750 pg/ml. There was a rise in serum gastrin levels after a standard protein meal, indicative of a large G cell mass, and a fall after intragastric HCI, which led to a trial of treatment with HCI; this gave some symptomatic relief. After surgical antrectomy there was a profound fall of serum gastrin from a pre-operative level of 2500 pg/ml to constant values of 16--25 pg/ml, and complete and lasting relief from the bouts of abdominal pain.