No abstract

To determine the solubility of pancreatic stones, in vitro experiments were performed by using the anaerobic percolation method. During steady-state conditions an inverse relationship between size and solubility in 150 mM NaCl was observed. The effects of several solvents on pancreatic stones solubility were studied: albumin induced a concentration-dependent increase, while bicarbonate induced a concentration-dependent decrease. Citrate dramatically increased the solubility of pancreatic stones, an increase which was not antagonized by adding bicarbonate. Total in vitro dissolution of 50 mg pancreatic stones was attempted by percolating 150 mM NaCl or 3.9 mM citrate, a concentration which can be reached in pancreatic juice during intraduodenal infusion of citrate. Extrapolated time of total dissolution was 60 days with NaCl percolation, while actual time with citrate percolation was 25 days. The potential usefulness of citrate treatment of chronic calcified pancreatitis is discussed.

No abstract

Citrate, calcium and protein have been estimated in pure pancreatic juice after a secretin and a CCK injection in 4 patients presenting with alcoholic calcified pancreatitis (ACP), 10 controls without evidence of pancreatic disease, drinking more than 130g alcohol/day, and 10 controls without evidence of pancreatic disease, drinking less than 20 g alcohol/day. Citrate is normally secreted in the pancreatic juice and this secretion increases in parallel with protein after CCK injection. Citrate secretion is significantly decreased in the two alcoholic groups. Calcium secretion is increased in the ACP, and reasons are presented to suggest that this may be due to lesions of the ducts. These modifications could play a role in the formation of pancreatic stones which are mostly built up of calcium carbonate.