In Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, diarrhea occurs in approximately what percentage of cases?

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Multiple Choice

In Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, diarrhea occurs in approximately what percentage of cases?

Excess gastrin from a gastrinoma drives very high gastric acid production, which sets off a cascade of intestinal disturbances. The overwhelming acid load injures the duodenal mucosa and inactivates pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, leading to fat malabsorption and a secretory-type diarrhea. This symptom is common but not universal in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and it is reported to occur in about 40% of cases in many summaries. Importantly, treating the acid overproduction with high-dose acid-suppressing therapy often improves diarrhea, since lowering the gastric acid burden reduces the downstream malabsorption. In patients with refractory ulcers or persistent diarrhea, checking fasting gastrin levels and possibly a secretin stimulation test helps confirm the diagnosis.

Excess gastrin from a gastrinoma drives very high gastric acid production, which sets off a cascade of intestinal disturbances. The overwhelming acid load injures the duodenal mucosa and inactivates pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, leading to fat malabsorption and a secretory-type diarrhea. This symptom is common but not universal in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and it is reported to occur in about 40% of cases in many summaries. Importantly, treating the acid overproduction with high-dose acid-suppressing therapy often improves diarrhea, since lowering the gastric acid burden reduces the downstream malabsorption. In patients with refractory ulcers or persistent diarrhea, checking fasting gastrin levels and possibly a secretin stimulation test helps confirm the diagnosis.

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