The influence of an abnormal duodenal loop on basal and food-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations.

Postprandial serum gastrin secretion was studied in 26 patients with X-ray-negative dyspepsia. Seven patients had a normal duodenum while 19 had duodenal anomalies. In patients with an abnormal duodenal loop, the mean postprandial serum gastrin secretion was significantly higher after 45, 60 and 120 min than that of the control group. No significant difference was demonstrated in the basal state. A delay in gastric emptying rate might be the cause of increased postprandial serum gastrin secretion in patients with an abnormal duodenal loop.