[Excretory pancreatic function: comparison of indirect function tests with the secretin-cholecystokinin test]

In 72 patients with chronic pancreatitis results of tbe secretin-cholecystokinin test were compared with those of several indirect test of pancreatic function (faecal fat content, chymotrypsin activity in faeces, peptide-PABA test, fluorescein-dilaurate test and weight of faeces). In 46 patients with markedly impaired pancreatic secretion the indirect tests were abnormal in 56-83% of cases. In 26 patients with normal or upper-limit-of-normal excretory function the same tests were abnormal in 15-77%. These results indicate that indirect tests of pancreatic function are of only limited value in the early diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency.