[Exocrine pancreatic function in chronic alcoholics in Austria (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Chronic alcoholism is a known risk factor for various organ damage.
• Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction is a potential complication of long-term alcohol abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction in chronic alcoholic patients.
• To assess the incidence of chronic calcifying pancreatitis in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Radiological assessment for chronic calcifying pancreatitis.
• Secretin-pancreozymin (SP) tests to evaluate pancreatic exocrine function.
• Measurement of daily fecal fat excretion.

Main Results:

• Chronic calcifying pancreatitis was diagnosed in 7.2% of patients.
• Secretin-pancreozymin tests revealed pancreatic insufficiency in 8/30 patients and hypersecretion in 8/30.
• Average daily fecal fat excretion was 5.3g in patients with prior gastrectomy (Billroth II).
• Overall, pancreatic disorders were detected in 53.2% of chronic alcoholic patients.

Conclusions:

• Chronic alcoholism is associated with a high prevalence of exocrine pancreatic disorders.
• The observed prevalence exceeds expectations for the Austrian population.
• Early detection and management of pancreatic dysfunction in alcoholics are crucial.