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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 1, 2004; 10(19): 2908-2910
Published online Oct 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i19.2908
Expression of growth hormone and its receptor in chronic atrophic gastritis and its clinical significance
Jian-Min Si, Qian Cao, Min Gao
Jian-Min Si, Qian Cao, Min Gao, Gastroenterology Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Qian Cao, Department of Gastroenterology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China. wcjd@public.bta.net.cn
Telephone: +86-571-86090073-4503 Fax: +86-571-86044718
Received: November 30, 2002
Revised: March 9, 2003
Accepted: March 16, 2003
Published online: October 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the growth hormone (GH) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) expression of and its clinical significance in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).

METHODS: A total of 90 cases were enrolled in the study. Thirty were healthy controls, the other 60 patients were divided into two groups according to the endoscopical and histological diagnosis. Blood samples were drawn in the morning (menarche did not occur during the blood extraction in female patients), gastric mucosa was obtained by endoscopy. Serum GH and gastrice mucosal GHR levels were measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA) and En Vinsion technique.

RESULTS: The average GH level was 1.021 ± 0.132 µg/L in CAG patients, in controls it was 2.869 ± 0.512 µg/L. There was a significant difference between these two groups (P < 0.01). The positive rate of GHR in CAG patients was 10%, in controls the rate was 100%. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01). There was no significant change of GH level (3.176 ± 0.421 µg/L) in patients with gastric carcinoma compared with controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study shows that levels of GH and GHR expression are low in CAG patients. CAG pathogenesis has a correlation with mucosal nutrient deficiency, decreased levels of GH and GHR have an adverse effect on the repair and regeneration of CAG. There is no significant change of GH in gastric carcinorma patients, GH dose not play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.

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