Pronounced – ZAH-lun-jur EL-uh-sun sin-drohm

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES) is a group of symptoms that occur when a tumor called a gastrinoma, which releases the hormone gastrin, forms in the pancreas, duodenum, or both. The tumors cause the stomach to make too much acid, leading to peptic ulcers.

The tumors are sometimes cancerous and spread to other areas of the body.

Anyone can get ZES, but the disease is more common among men 30 to 50 years old.

Symptoms of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

ZES symptoms are similar to those of peptic ulcers. Symptoms of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome include:

• Burning abdominal pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Weight loss.
• Diarrhea.
• Severe gastroesophageal reflux – a condition where gastric acid and food from the stomach backs up into the esophagus.

Treatment for Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is treated with medications to relieve ulcer symptoms. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is also treated with surgery, if appropriate, to remove tumors. Chemotherapy is sometimes used when tumors are too widespread to remove with surgery.

A class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors effectively reduces gastric acid secretion in the stomach and includes:

• Esomeprazole – Nexium
• Lansoprazole – Prevacid
• Pantoprazole – Protonix
• Omeprazole – Prilosec

Reducing stomach acid allows peptic ulcers to heal and relieves ZES symptoms.

Surgery

Surgical removal of gastrinomas is the only cure for ZES. Some gastrinomas behave like cancers and spread to other parts of the body, especially the liver and bones. Finding and removing all gastrinomas is often challenging.

Gastrinomas that cannot be surgically removed are sometimes treated with chemotherapy drugs, including:

• Streptozotocin – Zanosar
• 5-fluorouracil – Adrucil
• Doxorubicin – Doxil