[Serum gastrin in patients with acute kidney failure].

In 18 patients with acute renal failure and 11 patients with chronic renal insufficiency serum gastrin levels were estimated before and after a test meal. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 52 healthy subjects. It was stated that patients with acute as well as chronic renal failure display a "physiological" increase of serum gastrin after stimulation by a test meal. In contrast to healthy subjects the post-test meal gastrin curves in patients with chronic and acute renal insufficiency during the anuric/oliguric phase started from significantly higher fasting values. From the results obtained it seems that diminished renal clearance of gastrin by the insufficient kidneys is only partially responsible for the elevated fasting values found in anuric/oliguric patients with acute renal failure or patients with chronic renal insufficiency.