Pancreatic function and enzyme synthesis rates in mild chronic pancreatitis

Incorporation of intravenous 75Se-methionine into duodenal juice proteins during pancreatic stimulation was measured as an index of pancreatic enzyme synthesis rates in 12 patients with a normal pancreatogram and in 6 with mild chronic pancreatitis. Isotope incorporation was significantly greater in subjects with mild chronic pancreatitis than in those with a normal pancreatogram. Thus in most patients in whom pancreatography demonstrates the characteristic radiological features of 'mild chronic pancreatitis' pancreatic acinar function is abnormal. The coexistence of morphological and functional abnormality implies that such patients do have chronic pancreatitis.