The effect of 15(R)-15-methyl prostaglandin E2 on basal and meal stimulated serum gastrin in duodenal ulcer patients.

Basal and meal-stimulated serum gastrin with or without prior intake of 100 mcg 15(R)-15-methyl prostaglandin E2 (PG) in encapsulated form were measured in 40 patients with active duodenal ulcer disease at the start and at the end of a 4 week treatment period with 100 mcg PG q i d or placebo (Pl). Basal serum gastrin levels did not change throughout the study. Neither was there a blunting of the meal-stimulated serum gastrin release by PG as has been previously observed. The enhanced healing rate (68.4% during PG compared to 33.3% during Pl) can therefore not be explained by changes in basal or meal-stimulated serum gastrin.