B cell function in patients with chronic pancreatitis and its relation to exocrine pancreatic function

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Abstract
Exocrine pancreatic function was evaluated by a Lundh meal test and a secretin-cholecystokinin test in 16 patients with chronic pancreatitis. B cell function was assessed by measuring the concentration of C-peptide after stimulation with oral glucose and intravenous glucagon. The C-peptide response to intravenous glucagon and oral glucose was closely correlated (r = 0.88,p < 0.01). Plasma C-peptide after glucagon was significantly correlated to the post-prandial concentration of lipase (r = 0.72,p < 0.001), amylase (r=0.64,p < 0.05) and to amylase output (r = 0.64,p < 0.05). Eight out of nine patients treated with insulin had residual B cell function, but it diminished significantly with increasing duration of diabetes. We conclude that B cell function is correlated to pancreatic enzyme secretion and that patients with insulin-treated diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis have a residual insulin secretion similar to that of patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.