[Study of insulin secretion in chronic pancreatitis]

17 oral glucose tolerance tests with simultaneous estimation of plasma insulin, were carried out in 15 patients with chronic pancreatitis of which 7 were of calcific type. Among these patients, 10 had obvious diabetes and 3 chemical diabetes. The disorders of glucose regulation were more common in the calcific form of the disease. Serum insulin was then lower and not stimulant. The curves of plasma insulin obtained in non-calcific pancreatitis were variable. In hyperinsulinism, the oral glucose tolerance test showed flat or normal curves. In hypoinsulinism, the glucose tolerance tests were either normal or strongly pathological. This insulinism, as shown by this study of chronic pancreatitis, seems to be linked to an imbalance in the cell distribution of the islets of Langerhans. The role of glucagon appears preponderant.