[Standard and Augmented Secretin Tests in Chronic Pancreatitis]

The response of the pancreas to standard (1.0 U/kg) and augmented (4.0-5.0 U/kg) doses of secretin was compared in normal subjects and patients. The results of the investigation showed that for clinical purposes the standard test is sufficient for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases causing gross destruction of the parenchyma. The augmented test is of particular value when the response to 1 U/kg produces equivocal results, since greater stimulation enhances the masked secretory deficiency. The effect of the augmented stimulus in alcoholic patients suggests the hypothesis that the post-secretin response pattern of minimal pancreatic inflammatory disease is hypersecretion. Repeated observation is alcoholic hypersecretors has provided data which can explain the evolution of pancreatic pathology in the terminal stages of chronic pancreatitis.