The Calcium Concentration in Pancreatic Secretion in Chronic Pancreatitis and Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Abstract

Warwick, R. R. G., Tothill, P., Percy-Robb, I. W. & Shearman, D. J. C. 1973. The Calcium Concentration in Pancreatic Secretion in Pancreatitis and Carcinoma of the Pancreas. Scand. J. Gaslroent. 8, 301-305.

Calcium concentrations in the duodenal aspirate during a standard secretin stimulation test were measured in a series of 21 patients with a normal pancreas, 14 patients with pancreatitis and 7 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. A significant difference in calcium concentrations was found between the normal and the two abnormal groups, and it is suggested that this estimation may be a useful additional variable in the detection of pancreatic disease. When [⁴⁷Ca] calcium chloride was injected intravenously [⁴⁷Ca] appeared rapidly in the duodenal aspirate in normal subjects. In one patient with chronic pancreatitis there was some evidence of an increase in the pancreatic pool of calcium.

Key-words::

• Calcium
• carcinoma of pancreas
• pancreatic function tests
• pancreatitis