Pancreatic hypofunction in extrahepatic portal

Pancreatic function was studied in 29 patients with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction, and 30 age-matched controls. The aetiology of the portal venous obstruction was known in 20 out of 29 patients. No patient had a history of pancreatitis. Serum trypsin, both fasting and for 120 minutes after a Lundh meal, was significantly lower in the patients than in controls (p <0 005). 5/28 (18 %) patients had reduced fasting serum trypsin levels and in 5/14 trypsin was abnormal after a Lundh meal. Mean fasting serum glucose (3.8 ±0 49 mmol/l was significantly higher than in control subjects (mean 3.4 ±0A42 mmol/l) (p <005). After 100 g glucose orally, mean serum glucose at 180 minutes (5.26 ±1.58 mmol/l) was higher than the control value (3.96 +1.45 mmol/l) (p <0 05), and 30 and 60 minutes serum C-peptide values were significantly lower (p <0.005). Pancreatic hypofunction found in these patients probably results from an abnormal portal circulation in association with mild pancreatic damage secondary to chronic venous congestion.