Correlation between Exocrine Pancreatic Secretion and Serum Concentration of Human Pancreatic Polypeptide in Chronic Pancreatitis

Concentrations of human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) in serum were measured in the fasting state and after a meal in 19 control subjects and 24 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). The severity of CP was characterized on the basis of the duodenal lipase concentration after a test meal (Lundh test). Basal and postprandial HPP concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in severe and moderate chronic pancreatitis and in diabetes secondary to pancreatitis. There was only a weak correlation (r = 0.44; p < 0.05) between exocrine secretion and Δ HPP in CP. Fifty-eight percent of patients with CP had serum concentrations of HPP within the normal range, limiting the value of serum HPP measurement in the diagnosis of CP.