Duris I

Plasma gastrin levels in alcoholic and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis patients free from Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND Previous studies on gastrin levels in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients have given conflicting results. These studies did not take into consideration the influence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection on gastrin release. Also, there is no previous study that compared alcoholic CP patients to patients with idiopathic pancreatitis. Our aim was to measure basal and postprandial plasma gastrin levels in all CP patients, including subgroups of alcoholic, idiopathic, severe and mild CP patients, and compare them with healthy subjects after the eradication of H. pylori infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS Basal and postprandial gastrin levels were measured in 30 patients with CP (10 patients with alcoholic and 20 patients with idiopathic CP) and in 25 healthy subjects. RESULTS A significant increase in basal gastrin levels was found only in a subgroup of alcoholic CP (P<0.05) in comparison to healthy subjects. A significant increase in postprandial plasma gastrin levels (P<0.01) was found in all chronic pancreatitis compared to healthy subjects. CONCLUSION In the absence of H. pylori infection, plasma gastrin levels were significantly higher in chronic pancreatitis patients than in healthy subjects. Chronic alcoholism, however, does not appear to be the only factor responsible for the increased plasma gastrin levels in these patients.

Pancréatite chronique et troubles ioniques

RésuméDes différences significatives des taux sériques de calcium ionisé (Ca++), calcium sérique et calcium urinaire ainsi que de magnésium (Mg) ont été décrits dans la pancréatite chronique.L’abaissement du calcium dans la pancréatite chronique pourrait résulter d’une captation par les processus de réparation ou de la formation de calculs de carbonate de calcium dans le système canalaire pancréatique.SummarySignificant differences between the levels of ionized calcium (Ca), serum Ca, urinary Ca and serum magnesium (Mg) has been observed in chronic pancreatitis. The decrease of calcium in chronic pancreatitis may be induced by Ca uptake in reparative processes and by the formation of calcium carbon calculi in the ductal system of pancreas.