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Pentagastrin
General information
Pentagastrin is a short peptide that stimulates the production of gastric acid from the stomach by a direct action on gastrin receptors and of calcitonin from thyroid C cells [ ]. It also acts on cholecystokinin receptors centrally and stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and hence the production of glucocorticoids [ ].
Pentagastrin was originally used to test for suppression of gastric acid in patients who had had a vagotomy, and has been used to study gastric physiology and to test the effects of drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion. It has also been used in the diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid because it stimulates the production of calcitonin.
General adverse effects and adverse reactions
Pentagastrin often causes adverse reactions, which limit its use. Nausea, abdominal cramps, headache, drowsiness, and giddiness can occur. The effect on the stomach is largely dissociated from these. In one series 38 of 40 patients had a feeling of chest tightness [ ]. In 50 patients parenteral pentagastrin 6 micrograms/kg caused nausea in 14, tremor in 12, and a hot sensation in 11 [ ]. These effects occurred immediately after injection and continued for several minutes. In four subjects the test had to be stopped because of collapse.
Organs and systems
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