Fasting blood values of glucose, insulin, glucagon, gastrin following highly selective vagotomy in duodenal ulcer patients.

Changes in fasting blood levels of glucose, insulin, glucagon and gastrin were determined in duodenal ulcer patients (n equal to 59) before and up to 1 year after highly selective vagotomy (HSV). There was an increase in glucose values after HSV by approximately 6 mg/dl. The rise in gastrin levels was variable depending on the maximal preoperative acid secretion during pentagastrin stimulation. Insulin values remained unchanged after HSV while there was a significant drop of glucagon levels after 1 year. There is no relationship between the extent of post-HSV gastrinemia and glucose or between the latter and glucagon. It can be assumed that HSV causes additional metabolic changes besides reducing acid production.