Gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels in chronic pancreatitis.

Of 114 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 19 (16.7%) has gastric or duodenal ulcers. Patients with moderate pancreatic exocrine dysfunction tended to show high acid output and low serum gastrin levels, while those with severe dysfunction had slightly lower acid output and higher serum gastrin levels. The higher the degree of pancreatic fibrosis, the higher tended to be the acid output and serum gastrin levels. Not all patients with ulcers developed hypergastrinemia. The mechanism of acid hypersecretion and ulcer formation in patients with chronic pancreatitis cannot be explained solely by pancreatic deterioration, fibrosis or gastrin release; a decrease in the production and release of gastric inhibitory hormone should be taken into consideration.