The Pancreatic Secretion of Amylase as Compared to the Amylase Concentration in the Intestinal Contents after Ingestion of a Meal

Abstract

In 54 subjects (17 controls, 27 patients with pancreatic diseases, and 10 patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes), the pancreatic secretion of amylase during constant intravenous infusion of secretin and pancreozymin was compared to the mean concentration of amylase in the duodenal contents in an 80-minute period following ingestion of a fluid standard meal. A reliable linear correlation between the two parameters was observed. The regression lines were nearly identical in the three groups of subjects studied. A common regression line was calculated. The result implies that the concentration of pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine during digestion of a meal is primarily estimated by the enzyme-secreting capacity of the pancreas, and that the meal test for pancreatic function is very usable in order to characterize the secretory function of the pancreas.

Key-words:

• Enzyme concentration
• enzyme secretion
• meal test
• pancreatic function test
• secretin-pancreozymin test