[Gastrin and the exocrine-incretory activity of the pancreas in patients with chronic pancreatitis].

In patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis with concomitant atrophic antral gastritis, gastrinemia is less whereas the response of pancreatic enzymic secretion to pentagastrin is more potent than in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis without atrophic alterations in the gastroduodenal mucosa. The pancreas-stimulating effect of pentagastrin administered in a dose of 6 micrograms/kg is approximately equal to the action of 0.5 U/kg pancreozymine and noticeably yields to the effect of 1.5 U/kg pancreozymine (according to the criteria for output of intraduodenally secreted lipase and trypsin). The same diagnostic dose of pentagastrin used commonly for gastric secretion studies not only stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion but also enhances the activity of beta-cells of Langerhans' islets of the pancreas in accordance with insulinemia and blood C-peptide determined by RIA.