The effect of intravenous theophylline ethylenediamine on serum gastrin concentration in control subjects and patients with duodenal ulcers and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Serum gastrin concentrations were determined after an intravenous infusion of theophylline ethylenediamine (aminophylline) in 10 patients with duodenal ulcer, 9 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, 7 control subjects and 3 patients with pernicious anemia. Increases of serum gastrin levels were observed in each group. It is concluded that an aminophylline test would not be useful in the differential diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.