Exocrine pancreatic function in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in the Sudan

Exocrine pancreatic function was studied in 36 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 31 control subjects. The secretin test and the Lundh test meal were used to assess exocrine pancreas function. Patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis had a significantly lower bicarbonate concentration, less than 90 mmol/l in duodenal aspirate, than the control group (p less than 0.001). There were statistically insignificant differences in the volume of the duodenal aspirate after the secretin test and in the mean tryptic activity after the Lundh test meal between patients and controls. We conclude that exocrine pancreatic function is impaired with regard to bicarbonate secretion in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.