High Serum Gastrin - Anemia Message Board

MichelleCres · 01-26-2008, 02:17 PM

My Serum Gastrin is 300, my B12 is 392pg/ml could I have pernicious anemia?

ChristineVA · 01-26-2008, 05:54 PM

Do you take ANY kind of medication like Prilosec or Nexium? Any kind of antacid.

Serum gastrin is usually high in people who do not produce enough stomach acid. It is also high in anyone who regularly takes acid blockers or proton pump inhibitors.

chris0007 · 04-17-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Serum gastrin is usually high in people who do not produce enough stomach acid.

Christine,

How do you know this? I ask because I have gastritis (negative for H Pylori) and recently found my B-12 and iron to be at the low end of normal. I took HCL tablets for one week and my B-12 shot up to the high end of normal. I had a stomach PH test done (Heidelberg test - considered the most accurate way of measuring stomach pH) and came back with low stomach pH. Now I'm having my gastrin tested. I just want to get as much info as possible and it seems you are in the know.

Thanks for any help!

ChristineVA · 04-17-2008, 04:12 PM

I have high serum gastrin (in the 300 range) due to taking Prilosec. My GI doctor told me that high levels are totally normal and expected in people who take acid reducers.

Gastrin is a "feedback" kind of thing. Your stomach acid is supposed to be at a certain level for optimal stomach functioning. If it is not at that level, your body produces gastrin to try to raise stomach acid levels. Measuring gastrin is a good way to tell if a proton pump inhibitor medication is working. If the gastrin is high, it means that stomach acid is low.

If you stomach acid is naturally low, your doctor may be wanting to check gastrin to see if your body is trying to raise stomach acid.

chris0007 · 04-18-2008, 03:45 PM

Thanks Christina!

Do you know by any chance what a low gastrin plasma level would be considered?