Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and urinary cyclic AMP in German patients with subtotal gastrectomy (Billroth II).

In an attempt to clarify the pathogenesis of the disturbed calcium metabolism which sometimes follows partial gastrectomy, we determined plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) concentrations and urinary cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) excretion in patients who had previously undergone Billroth II gastrectomy and who were without clinical evidence of bone disease. In 17 Billroth II patients plasma 25-OH-D concentrations were reduced (12.6 +/- 4.6 ng/ml, mean +/- SD) compared to values in 17 control patients with diseases not affecting calcium metabolism (31.6 +/- 12.9 ng/ml, P less than 0.001). Urinary cAMP excretion, in part reflecting parathyroid function, was higher in 17 Billroth II patients (5.0 +/- 2.5 micronmol/day) than in the control patients (2.6 +/- 1.3 micronmol/day, P less than 0.001). These results suggest impaired nutrition of vitamin D and secondary hyperparathyroidism in Billroth II patients. While the cause of this phenomenon is unclear, it may contribute to the disturbance of calcium metabolism in patients who have had subtotal gastrectomy.