Secretin-stimulated trypsin-like immunoreactivity in alcoholics

Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) was studied in alcoholics without evidence of pancreatic disease and in controls. Basal values were 29 +/- 4.6 microgram/l (mean +/- S.E.M) in alcoholics and 23 +/- 4.4 microgram/l in controls (p not significant). The injection of secretin was followed by a significant increase of serum TLI in both groups; the integrated trypsin output (ITO) in the first hour after secretin administration was 947 +/- 403 (mean +/- S.E.M.) in alcoholics and 76 +/- 15 in controls (p less than 0.05). In 9 (75%) of the alcoholics tested, ITO was higher than the highest ITO of controls. The increase of serum TLI after injection of secretin is probably due to secretion and/or regurgitation of trypsinogen into the bloodstream when the pancreas is stimulated with intravenous secretin. In the light of experimental studies on chronic ethanol intoxication in animals, the increased ITO observed in alcoholics may suggest obstruction to pancreatic secretory flow in spite of the absence of any clinical sign of pancreatic disease.