J Med Cases
Journal of Medical Cases, ISSN 1923-4155 print, 1923-4163 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Med Cases and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.journalmc.org

Case Report

Volume 6, Number 5, May 2015, pages 232-234


Marked Variation in Serum Chromogranin A Levels in a Patient on Chronic Omeprazole Therapy

Theresa Ratajczaka, Ankur Guptaa, b

aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA
bCorresponding Author: Ankur Gupta, Department of Internal Medicine, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA

Manuscript accepted for publication April 15, 2015
Short title: Variation of Serum Chromogranin A
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2135w

Abstract▴Top 

Serum chromogranin A (CgA) is used as a standard marker in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. We report a case with wide fluctuation (more than 10-fold) in serum CgA levels in a patient on chronic omeprazole therapy. A 67-year-old woman with hypothyroidism presented for evaluation of facial flushing for 1 year. Flushing had increased in intensity over the past several months without any provocative factors. She denied any diarrhea, wheezing, headache, palpitations or facial erythema. Her home medications were aspirin, omeprazole, levothyroxine, and raloxifene. The patient reported no improvement in flushing on stopping raloxifene. Physical exam was unremarkable. On blood testing, she was noted to have mildly elevated serum CgA of 18.8 ng/mL (range 1.9 - 15 ng/mL). Other endocrine tests including serum tryptase, 24-hour urine N-methylhistamine, 24-hour urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, metanephrines, catecholamines, and serum calcitonin were unremarkable. Serum CgA was repeated because of her continued symptoms. Repeat blood test showed markedly increased CgA value (128 ng/mL). She underwent a CT chest/abdomen/pelvis and octreotide scan. The octreotide scan showed uptake in the right axillary and subcarinal regions. She subsequently underwent endoscopic bronchial ultrasound and mediastinal biopsy of two lymph nodes. Biopsy was negative for any pathological process. PET scan was done to rule out occult malignancies and was negative. Echocardiogram was normal. She was also seen by neurology with unremarkable workup. CgA levels were repeated over a course of three months and levels varied from 126 to 182 ng/mL. She was asked to hold omeprazole for 2 weeks and CgA levels dropped to 24 ng/mL. The patient resumed omeprazole due to worsening reflux. Repeat CgA level three months later on omeprazole was 18 ng/mL. Venlafaxine and paroxetine were tried for flushing but she could not tolerate these due to side effects. It had been previously established that medications which stimulate neuroendocrine cells, in particular proton pump inhibitors (PPI) could lead to falsely elevated CgA levels. The interesting aspect in this case is increase in CgA more than 10-fold and the marked variation in CgA levels while on omeprazole (18 - 182 ng/mL). There is marked variability in serum CgA levels in presence of a PPI as seen in our case. Clinicians should consider repeat testing of CgA levels in setting of abnormal values and also consider stopping contributing medications before testing and making important clinical decisions.

Keywords: Chromogranin A; Proton pump inhibitors; Variation

Introduction▴Top 

Chromogranin A (CgA) is a secretory protein used as a standard marker in immunohistochemical diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors [1]. We report a case with wide fluctuation (more than 10-fold) in serum CgA levels in a patient on chronic omeprazole therapy.

Case Report▴Top 

A 67-year-old woman with past medical history significant for hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, and osteoarthritis presented for evaluation of facial flushing for 1 year. Flushing had increased in intensity over the past several months and had been occurring up to 10 times daily without any provocative factors. She denied diarrhea, wheezing, headache, palpitations or facial erythema. Her home medications were aspirin, omeprazole, levothyroxine, and raloxifene. The patient reported no improvement in flushing on stopping raloxifene.

Physical examination was unremarkable with no erythema, lymphadenopathy, wheezing or murmurs. On blood testing, she was noted to have mildly elevated serum CgA of 18.8 ng/mL (range 1.9 - 15 ng/mL). Electro-chemiluminescence (ECLIA) method was used for the testing. Other endocrine tests including serum tryptase, 24-h urine N-methyl histamine, 24-h urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), metanephrines, catecholamines, serum calcitonin, and serum carcinoembryonic antigen were unremarkable.

She returned for a follow-up visit a month later due to persistent symptoms of flushing. Serum CgA was repeated and markedly increased from 18.8 to 128 ng/mL. She underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan chest/abdomen/pelvis and an octreotide scan. The octreotide scan showed uptake in the right axillary and subcarinal regions. She subsequently underwent endoscopic bronchial ultrasound and mediastinal biopsy of two lymph nodes in the area of uptake on the octreotide scan. Biopsy was negative for any pathological process. Echocardiogram was normal. PET scan was done to rule out occult malignancies and was negative. She was also seen by neurology with an unremarkable workup.

The patient was found to have persistently elevated serum CgA levels over a period of several months that ranged from 126 to 182 ng/mL. She continued to have flushing. After a comprehensive workup, she underwent a trial discontinuation of her proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Her repeat serum CgA levels after two weeks of PPI cessation dropped to 24 ng/mL. The patient resumed omeprazole due to worsening gastroesophageal reflux. She continued to have symptoms. Venlafaxine and paroxetine were tried but she could not tolerate these medications due to side effects. Serum CgA level three months later on omeprazole was noted to be 18 ng/mL (Table 1 and Fig. 1).

Table 1.
Click to view
Table 1. Chromogranin A Levels in Relation to Omeprazole Therapy
 

Figure 1.
Click for large image
Figure 1. Level of chromogranin A measured over a course of 10 months.
Discussion▴Top 

The differential diagnosis of flushing is broad and includes physiological causes, menopause, medications, food, alcohol or skin conditions such as rosacea. Additionally, the more serious medical conditions include carcinoid syndrome, mastocytosis or medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, etc. [2].

Serum CgA and urine 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid are considered the most useful biochemical markers in evaluation of carcinoid tumors in diagnosis and follow-up after treatment [1]. The number of patients using acid suppressive medications has increased significantly since their introduction in the 1980s, prescription as well as over the counter [3]. It had been previously established that medications which stimulate neuroendocrine cells, particularly PPIs could lead to falsely elevated CgA levels [4]. The mechanism of CgA elevation is unclear, with some studies suggesting that gastric acid inhibition causes proliferation of the enterochromaffin cells and elevated release of gastrin which in turn causes elevated CgA levels [5].

The interesting aspect in this case is the magnitude of increase in CgA levels (more than 10-fold) and the marked variation in serum CgA levels while on omeprazole (18 - 182 ng/mL). Braga and group looked at biological variation of serum CgA in 22 healthy volunteers (men and women) not taking any medications every two weeks for two months. The study showed variation of CgA (less than five-fold) on repeated testing [6]. In this patient who was taking a PPI, the range of results was more widespread.

Conclusion

There is marked variability in serum CgA levels in presence of proton pump inhibitors as seen in our case. Serum CgA levels are also variable in absence of proton pump inhibitors. Clinicians should consider repeat testing of serum CgA levels in setting of abnormal values and also consider stopping contributing medications before testing and making important clinical decisions.

Acknowledgement

We would like to also acknowledge the assistance of Dr Ronald J. Markert, Ph.D., Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton Ohio, for his comments and critical review of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors of this article have no conflict of interest to declare.


References▴Top 
  1. Giusti M, Sidoti M, Augeri C, Rabitti C, Minuto F. Effect of short-term treatment with low dosages of the proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole on serum chromogranin A levels in man. Eur J Endocrinol. 2004;150(3):299-303.
    doi pubmed
  2. http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/endocrinology/flushing.
  3. Raines D, Chester M, Diebold AE, Mamikunian P, Anthony CT, Mamikunian G, Woltering EA. A prospective evaluation of the effect of chronic proton pump inhibitor use on plasma biomarker levels in humans. Pancreas. 2012;41(4):508-511.
    doi pubmed
  4. Korse CM, Muller M, Taal BG. Discontinuation of proton pump inhibitors during assessment of chromogranin A levels in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. Br J Cancer. 2011;105(8):1173-1175.
    doi pubmed
  5. Sanduleanu S, Stridsberg M, Jonkers D, Hameeteman W, Biemond I, Lundqvist G, Lamers C, et al. Serum gastrin and chromogranin A during medium- and long-term acid suppressive therapy: a case-control study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1999;13(2):145-153.
    doi pubmed
  6. Braga F, Ferraro S, Mozzi R, Dolci A, Panteghini M. Biological variation of neuroendocrine tumor markers chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase. Clin Biochem. 2013;46(1-2):148-151.
    doi pubmed


This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Journal of Medical Cases is published by Elmer Press Inc.

 

Browse  Journals  

 

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research

Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics

 

World Journal of Oncology

Gastroenterology Research

Journal of Hematology

 

Journal of Medical Cases

Journal of Current Surgery

Clinical Infection and Immunity

 

Cardiology Research

World Journal of Nephrology and Urology

Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research

 

Journal of Neurology Research

International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics

 

 
       
 

Journal of Medical Cases, monthly, ISSN 1923-4155 (print), 1923-4163 (online), published by Elmer Press Inc.                     
The content of this site is intended for health care professionals.
This is an open-access journal distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted
non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Creative Commons Attribution license (Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC-BY-NC 4.0)


This journal follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals,
the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

website: www.journalmc.org   editorial contact: editor@journalmc.org    elmer.editorial@hotmail.com
Address: 9225 Leslie Street, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3H6, Canada

© Elmer Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the editors and Elmer Press Inc. This website is provided for medical research and informational purposes only and does not constitute any medical advice or professional services. The information provided in this journal should not be used for diagnosis and treatment, those seeking medical advice should always consult with a licensed physician.