Gastric endocrine cell behavior in Zollinger-Ellison patients upon long-term potent antisecretory treatment.

Serum gastrin and gastric endocrine cell numerical densities were examined in 22 patients with long-standing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome who were receiving either ranitidine, omeprazole, or other antisecretory drugs (SMS 201-995 or pirenzepine with or without ranitidine) for long periods of time. Fifteen patients had iterative biopsies. Twenty-one subjects with normal endoscopy, serum gastrin, and acid secretion served as controls. Individual fundic argyrophil cell density was above the highest control value in 77% of the patients, whatever the treatment. Argyrophil cell densities tended to be higher in women than in men. During the survey, fundic carcinoids developed in one ranitidine- and in one omeprazole-treated patient. Fundic argyrophil cell densities were correlated with serum gastrin levels (r' = 0.730, p less than 0.001). Antral somatostatin cell density was not modified in any patients as compared with controls, nor was antral gastrin cell density except in omeprazole-treated patients. In these patients, gastrin cell density and gastrin to somatostatin cell ratio were significantly higher than in all other patients or controls. Such increases may indicate true gastrin cell hyperplasia in relation to drug-induced profound acid inhibition.