[Functional reserve of the exocrine pancreas in Sjögren's syndrome]

Exocrine pancreatic function was studied in a homogeneous group of 33 female patients aged 42-67 years. Of these patients, 11 were classified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 11 as Sjögren's syndrome I (SSI) and 11 as Sjögren's syndrome associated with RA (SSII). Clinical features, laboratory tests and special instrumental techniques excluded gastroenteric-hepatobiliary causes of pancreatic diseases. These patients were subjected to direct pancreatic stimulation with secretin and caerulein (S. Cae test). Test results, compared to control-group (10 voluntary healthy females) showed, in the last 30 m of stimulation, a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in duodenal juice volume, bicarbonates and trypsin in 6 cases (54.5%) of SSI and in 3 cases (27.2%) of RA. SSII S. Cae test showed a decrease of volume and bicarbonates in 6 patients (54.5%) and in only 4 of these (36.4%) it was associated with a concomitant decrease in trypsin levels. Authors discuss the subclinical exocrine pancreatic function in relationship to sicca-syndrome, possible immunological factors and primary disease of pancreatic ducts.