Serum Gastrin and Pepsinogens Do Not Correlate with the Different Grades of Severity of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease: a Matched Case-Control Study.

Background Gastrin and pepsinogens reflect the functional state of the gastric mucosa.AimTo evaluate whether serum gastrin and pepsinogens correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).MethodsIn all, 388 patients with heartburn not taking any form of acid suppressive therapy were matched-controlled for age and gender and sub-classified into four groups: group I non-erosive reflux disease (NERD); group 2, erosive reflux disease (ERD) Los Angeles (LA) A and B, group 3, ERD LA C and D; group 4 Barrett's oesophagus (130). Fasting serum was analysed for gastrin 17, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II und Helicobacter pylori using specific EIA tests (GastroPanel; Biohit, Plc). Statistics: Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance.ResultsThere was a significant difference among the four groups with respect for pepsinogen I, but not for pepsinogen II, the pepsinogen I pepsinogen II ratio, H. pylori serology and gastrin levels. Pepsinogen I was the lowest in NERD and the highest in BO (median 91.6, mean standard deviation 106.2 +/- 51.6 vs. median 114.7, mean standard deviation 130.4 +/- 70.6; P = 0.046). Pepsinogen I levels were higher in H. pylori positive subjects. After adjusting for H. pylori status the differences in pepsinogen I across, patient groups were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.298).ConclusionsSerum gastrin and pepsinogen I and II do not correlate with the different grades of severity of GERD. The non-invasive GastroPanel is not useful for the differentiation of the various forms of GERD.