Effect of small bowel bypass on serum gastrin levels and gastric acid secretion in man.

In animals massive resection of the small intestine is followed by increased gastric acid secretion and an increase in serum gastrin levels. Whether hypersecretion occurs in man after intestinal resections or intestinal bypass is unclear, but an increase in fasting gastrin levels has been reported after intestinal resection. In this series a significant increase in basal gastric acid secretion and fasting serum gastrin levels has been demonstrated after intestinal bypass. However, none of the patients developed peptic ulcer or clinical symptoms of hypersecretion after the bypass operation. Whether the increase in basal secretion and the serum gastrin concentration are interrelated or of any clinical importance is uncertain.