Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To measure the levels of blood gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL) and somatostation (SS) in children with chronic gastritis and to explore the relationship between blood GAS, MTL and SS levels and the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis in children. METHODS: Fasting blood GAS, MTL and SS levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 50 children with chronic gastritis [Gastritis group, 21 Helicobacter pylori (Hp) positive, 29 Hp negative] and compared to those in 30 age-matched normal children (Control group). Gastroscopy was performed for the children in the Gastritis group and then mucosal speciments obtained from antrum of stomach and duodenal ampulla were sent for RUT and histopathologic Giemas staining. RESULTS: (1) The serum GAS level in the Gastritis group ( 141.5± 28.0 ng/L) was significantly higher than that in the Control group ( 68.7± 17.9 ng/L) (P< 0.01). In the Gastritis group, the serum GAS level in children who were Hp-positive ( 173.0± 46.0 ng/L) was significantly higher than that in those who were Hp-negative ( 110.0± 20.0 ng/L) (P< 0.01). (2) The serum MTL level in the Gastritis group was significantly lower than that in the Control group ( 199.5± 61.0 ng/L vs 281.0± 76.0 ng/L) (P< 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in MTT between the Hp-positive and Hp-negative children. (3) The serum SS level in the Gastritis group was also lower than that in the Control group ( 166.4± 18.0 ng/L vs 229.0± 45.0 ng/L) (P< 0.05). In the Gastritis group, the serum SS level in Hp-positive children was significantly lower than those who were Hp-negative ( 144.5± 11.0 ng/L vs 187.4± 26.0 ng/L) (P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Blood GAS, MTL and SS levels are different in children with chronic gastritis, which might be part of the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis. Determinations of blood GAS and SS levels may be useful in the diagnosis of Hp infection in chronic gastritis.
