Should I undergo gastroscopy for high levels of gastrin 17?

Elevated levels of gastrin 17 are usually recommended to undergo gastroscopy, which can help clarify the cause and guide subsequent treatment. Elevated levels of gastrin 17 may be related to factors such as abnormal gastric acid secretion, helicobacter pylori infection, and gastric antral lesions. Gastrin-17 is a hormone secreted by G cells in the gastric antrum, and an increase in its level often reflects a decrease in gastric acid secretion or damage to the gastric mucosa. In most cases, elevated levels of gastrin 17 are associated with chronic atrophic gastritis. Gastroscopy can directly observe the degree of gastric mucosal atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and other lesions, while biopsy can be performed to exclude the risk of cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection is also a common cause, and rapid urease test or histological examination under gastroscopy can provide a clear diagnosis. For people who take acid suppressing drugs for a long time, gastrin 17 may be elevated due to feedback regulation mechanisms, and gastroscopy can evaluate the effects of drugs on the mucosa. In rare cases, neuroendocrine tumors such as gastrinoma can also cause abnormal indicators, and gastroscopy combined with endoscopic ultrasound can help with localization diagnosis. If high levels of gastrin 17 are accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and black stool, gastroscopy examination is more necessary. For individuals without typical symptoms but with persistent abnormal indicators, it is also recommended to exclude potential lesions through gastroscopy. Before the examination, it is necessary to fast for at least 8 hours to avoid affecting the observation effect. Pay attention to a light diet after surgery and avoid spicy and stimulating foods that can increase the burden on the gastric mucosa. If Helicobacter pylori infection is found, standardized quadruple therapy should be used for eradication treatment. Daily eating should be regular, reducing the intake of high salt and pickled foods, and regularly checking stomach function indicators.