Impaired interdigestive pancreatic polypeptide release

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate interdigestive cycling and postprandial release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in relation to exocrine pancreatic function in chronic pancreatitis (CP). We investigated nine patients with mild-moderate CP (MCP), eight patients with severe CP and steathorrea (SCP), and 17 healthy subjects as controls. Interdigestive antroduodenal motility was monitored by means of manometry. Following two consecutive motility cycles, a standard test meal was administered. Plasma samples were drawn for PP determinations every 15 min throughout the entire study, which concluded 2 hr after ingestion of the meal. Mean interdigestive PP plasma concentrations during phase III motor activity were lower in MCP (146±46 pg/ml) than in controls (270±42 pg/ml) and lower still in SCP (55±8 pg/ml). Accordingly, the percent increase in PP concentrations during phase III over those in phase I was progressively decreased from controls (112%) to MCP (62%) to SCP (19%). Mean interdigestive PP concentrations were also lower during phase I and II in SCP than in controls or MCP. None of the postprandial parameters for PP release was affected in the early stage of disease, while mean, peak, and integrated postprandial values were significantly lower in SCP than in controls or MCP. Thus, we observed a progressive diminution of both interdigestive and postprandial PP release with increasing severity of disease. Interdigestive release parameters, in particular, were tightly correlated with exocrine function. CP appears to alter interdigestive PP release to a greater extent than postprandial PP release; this effect is already apparent in early stages of the disease. Impaired release of PP during phase III motor activity may represent an early hormonal disorder in CP.