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Pancreatic polypeptide secretion in patients with chronic pancreatitis and after pancreatic surgery

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Abstract

Aim. We investigated polypeptide (PP) secretion under basal conditions, in response to bombesin infusion and to meal ingestion in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and patients after different types of pancreatic surgery.

Methods. Included were patients with CP without (n=20) and with (n=30) exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, patients after duodenum preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (DPRHP; n=20), after Whipple’s procedure (n=19), following distal pancreatectomy (DP; n=12), and healthy controls (n=36).

Results. In CP patients basal and bombesin stimulated PP levels were significantly (p<0.01) reduced compared to controls only when exocrine insufficiency was present. Meal-stimulated PP secretion was significantly (p<0.01−0.05) reduced in CP patients both with and without exocrine insufficiency. Plasma PP peak increments after bombesin and meal ingestion correlated significantly with exocrine function. Basal PP, meal, and bombesin-stimulated PP secretion had low sensitivities of 22%, 42%, and 60% respectively, in detecting chronic pancreatitis. In patients after pancreatic surgery that included pancreatic head resection (DPRHP or Whipple operation) basal and stimulated PP secretion were significantly (p<0.01−0.05) reduced.

Conclusion. Basal and meal or bombesin-stimulated PP levels are significantly reduced in patients with CP only when exocrine insufficiency is present. Determination of plasma PP levels has low sensitivity and is not useful in detecting chronic pancreatitis without exocrine insufficiency. In patients after pancreatic surgery, PP secretion is dependent on the type of operation (head vs tail resection).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands

    Eric H. Eddes & Willem Bemelman

  2. Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Building 1, C4-P, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Marco Verkijk, Hugo A. J. Gielkens, Izak Biemond, Cornelis B. H. W. Lamers & Ad A. M. Masclee

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  1. Eric H. Eddes
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  2. Marco Verkijk
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  3. Hugo A. J. Gielkens
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  6. Cornelis B. H. W. Lamers
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  7. Ad A. M. Masclee
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Eddes, E.H., Verkijk, M., Gielkens, H.A.J. et al. Pancreatic polypeptide secretion in patients with chronic pancreatitis and after pancreatic surgery. International Journal of Pancreatology 29, 173–180 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1385/IJGC:29:3:173

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/IJGC:29:3:173

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