Family studies of hypergastrinemic, hyperpepsinogenemic I duodenal ulcer.

Antral G-cell hyperfunction is a rare cause of hypergastrinemia, hyperchlorhydria, and duodenal ulcer disease. We found evidence for a familial basis for this disorder. The probands were two young men with aggressive duodenal ulcer who had basal and postprandial hypergastrinemia, hyperpepsinogenemia I, and basal and pentagastrin-stimulated hyperchlorhydria. All characteristics returned to normal after antrectomy and vagotomy. Antral gastrin concentrations and quantitative G-cell counts were normal, indicating hyperfunction of G-cells rather than hyperplasia. Four of 10 first-degree relatives of the two patients shared with them the combination of postprandial hypergastrinemia and hyperpepsinogenemia I. The aggregation of these abnormalities in tow families, each identified by a proband with hypergastrinemic, hyperpepsinogenemic l duodenal ulcer, suggests that antral G-cell hyperfunction may have a genetic basis.