Exocrine pancreatic function in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic metabolic disorder.
• Exocrine pancreatic function in IDDM patients requires further investigation.
• Assessing pancreatic function is crucial for understanding diabetic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate exocrine pancreatic function in patients with long-standing IDDM.
• To compare results from the secretin-pancreozymin test with serum enzyme levels.
• To determine the correlation between exocrine dysfunction and serum enzyme markers.

Main Methods:

• Secretin-pancreozymin (SP) test performed on 53 IDDM patients.
• Serum immunoreactive trypsin and pancreatic isoamylase measured in 43 patients.
• Analysis of enzyme and bicarbonate output from the SP test.
• Comparison of SP test results with serum enzyme concentrations.

Main Results:

• 43% of IDDM patients showed abnormal results on the SP test.
• Decreased lipase, amylase, trypsin, and bicarbonate output were observed.
• Only 14% had low serum immunoreactive trypsin; 67% had low pancreatic isoamylase.
• No correlation was found between SP test abnormalities and serum enzyme levels.

Conclusions:

• Impaired exocrine pancreatic function is common in long-standing IDDM.
• Serum enzyme levels, especially pancreatic isoamylase, are unreliable indicators of exocrine pancreatic function in these patients.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and clinical implications of exocrine dysfunction in diabetes.