We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Anatomy

What Is Pentagastrin?

By Jillian O Keeffe
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Pentagastrin is a drug that mimics the action of a natural hormone in the body. This hormone, gastrin, stimulates the stomach to produce acid. Doctors can take advantage of the similar effect pentagastrin has to diagnose stomach problems in patients.

The stomach is made up of different cells, some of which secrete substances to aid digestion and help normal functioning of the organ. One such substance is the hormone gastrin, which has several biological effects. When food enters the stomach, especially protein and calcium, the stomach releases gastrin into the bloodstream. Gastrin signals to other cells in the stomach and in the intestine to produce acid to help digest the food. The hormone also promotes gastric cell growth and may affect the rate of movement of food through the stomach.

Gastrin occurs naturally in the body as a group of similar molecules. All of these forms of gastrin have an identical section of five amino acids at one end, which is known as pentagastrin. It is only this section that is essential for function. This small section alone can therefore cause acid to be produced. Certain illnesses and conditions affect acid production, and by administering pentagastrin, doctors can gain information to help diagnose the problem.

Conditions that can be diagnosed through pentagastrin testing include stomach cancer, pernicious anemia, and gastritis. These illnesses can affect the ability of the stomach to produce acid. Gastric ulcer surgery can also lower acid production. Some conditions, such as Zollinger-Ellis cancer or an untreated stomach ulcer, can cause raised acid levels, which can also be measured after a pentagastrin test.

This test is available as an injection, although nasal inhalation of a powder is another method of administration. Fasting is necessary prior to the test, and acid production begins about 10 minutes after administration. Stomach acid samples are then collected and tested.

People with liver problems, biliary disease, or pancreatitis may not be suitable candidates for pentagastrin tests. Stomach ulcers may also be made worse by the test. In addition, it is unknown whether the substance is harmful to pregnant or breastfeeding women and their babies or if it is safe for children.

A rare side effect of pentagastrin is an allergic reaction. Adverse effects such as dizziness, lethargy, and numbness are also possible. More common, although less severe, side effects are gastrointestinal. Vomiting, pain in the stomach, and a feeling of needing to move the bowels are all possible and temporary side effects.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By SarahSon — On Dec 30, 2011

My dad has a history of stomach ulcers that have given him problems for many years. He has to be very careful of the type of foods he eats.

Through the years he has learned what foods can set something off, so he tries to avoid them. He tries to stay away from most fried, greasy foods.

Once when he was given a pentagastrin test, he had some adverse reactions to it. They gave him an injection and he felt very dizzy and sick to his stomach.

Since then, he has inhaled the powder through his nose to check his acid levels. For some reason he doesn't have the bad reaction with the powder like he did with the injection.

By julies — On Dec 29, 2011

I was having a lot of abdominal problems and the doctors were trying to figure out what was wrong. I was nauseated and had some ongoing, vague abdominal pain.

At first they thought it was my gall bladder, but they ruled that out. I was then given a pentagastrin stimulation test to see how my stomach was reacting to food and digestive juices.

The test was not painful, and I didn't have any side effects from it. I had my test scheduled for the first thing in the morning because I couldn't have anything to eat or drink after midnight.

The pentagastrin injections helped them determine that I had chronic gastritis which was the reason for my symptoms. They think this was the result of years of taking ibuprofen for headaches.

It seems like a vicious cycle. You take a medication for one thing, only to find out it causes other problems later on down the road.

I took another medication for a few weeks to help heal my stomach, and have not had any problems since then.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.