LACTOFERRIN OF DUODENAL JUICE IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Abstract

To study mechanism on stone formation in the pancreatic ducts in chronic pancreatitis, lactoferrin of the duodenal juice obtained during pancreozymin secretin test was determined by radioimmunoassay in the following three groups: normal exocrine function (n=65), chronic noncalcifying pancreatitis (16) and chronic calcifying pancreatitis (22).
Lactoferrin concentration of the duodenal juice was significantly higher in chronic pancreatitis than in normal, about three times higher in noncalcifying pancreatitis and five times in calcifying pancreatitis. Amylase concentration, on the other hand, decreased in chronic pancreatitis, half of that of the normal for noncalcifying and one third for calcifying pancreatitis. Difference of lactoferrin between normal and chronic pancreatitis became much greater when expressed in a ratio of lactoferrin/amylase, 14 times greater in noncalcifying and 20 times greater in calcifying pancreatitis.
Results thus obtained suggest that lactoferrin plays an important role in pancreatic stone formation in chronic pancreatitis.