Pancreatic and gastrointestinal hormones in chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic and gut hormones have been measured in 39 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 16 of whom had severe pancreatic insufficiency. Patients with pancreatic insufficiency had significantly diminished fasting levels and postprandial rises of pancreatic polypeptide which were less than 20% of normal. Patients with chronic pancreatitis, with or without exocrine insufficiency, had two- to threefold higher plasma levels of motilin and enteroglucagon than controls. Plasma levels of insulin, pancreatic glucagon, gastric inhibitory polypeptide and gastrin were similar to normal in these patients. The pattern of response of these hormones to a test breakfast differs markedly from those seen in other gut disease states and may reflect pathophysiological mechanisms.