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Plasma glucagon in acute and chronic pancreatitis

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Abstract

The increased use of glucagon in the treatment of acute pancreatitis led us to study plasma glucagon in 26 patients with acute pancreatitis and 33 patients with chronic pancreatitis. In all patients simultaneous measurements of plasma glucagon, serum amylase, and serum calcium were performed. In acute pancreatitis there was a tendency toward elevated plasma glucagon and low serum calcium levels, but there was no significant correlation between the concentrations of plasma glucagon, serum calcium, and serum amylase. The plasma glucagon concentrations were found to be low in only 2% of the measurements during the first week of the acute attack. These findings do not support the use of glucagon in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Résumé

L'utilisation de plus en plus fréquente du glucagon dans le traitement de la pancréatite aiguë nous a amenés à étudier la glucagonémie dans 26 pancréatites aiguës et 33 pancréatites chroniques. Chez tous les patients, les taux plasmatiques de glucagon, d'amylase et de calcium ont été dosés simultanément. La pancréatite aiguë s'accompagne en général d'une élévation du glucagon et d'une baisse du calcium; mais il n'y a pas de corrélation significative entre glucagon, calcium et amylase. Pendant la première semaine de la crise de pancréatite aiguë, nous n'avons trouvé une glucagonémie abaissée que dans 2% des dosages. L'utilité du glucagon dans le traitement de la pancréatite n'est pas confirmée par nos résultats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Køben-havns Kommunehospital, 1. afdeling, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Annette Buch M.D., Jens Holst M.D., Arne Schmidt M.D., Ph.D. & Jan Buch M.D.

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Annette Buch M.D., Jens Holst M.D., Arne Schmidt M.D., Ph.D. & Jan Buch M.D.

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  1. Annette Buch M.D.
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  2. Jens Holst M.D.
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  3. Arne Schmidt M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Jan Buch M.D.
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Buch, A., Holst, J., Schmidt, A. et al. Plasma glucagon in acute and chronic pancreatitis. World J. Surg. 2, 373–377 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01561524

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