pentagastrin test
Last reviewed 01/2018
The pentagastrin test is a test of basal and stimulated acid production by the parietal cells of the stomach. Pentagastrin is a synthetic peptide containing the five terminal amino acids of gastrin.
The pentagastrin test may be used in the diagnosis of:
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome:
- basal acid secretion is high
- little stimulation by pentagastrin
- Achlorhydria:
- basal acid secretion is low
- little stimulation by pentagastrin