[The effect of pharmacological agents on pancreatic incretory activity in patients with chronic pancreatitis].

In chronic pancreatitis with moderate derangements of carbohydrate tolerance (detected by the double glucose test), the basal concentrations of insulin and C-peptide in blood are normal whereas in patients with secondary diabetes mellitus are lowered. Glucagonemia is increased in patients of both groups. Euphylline (applied as an inhibitor of nucleotide phosphodiesterase), calcium gluconate and the adrenomimetic drug isadrin consistently increased insulinemia and the blood level of C-peptide in patients with chronic pancreatitis both with moderate and appreciable derangements of glucose tolerance. In patients with secondary diabetes that developed in the presence of pancreatitis, these drugs did not influence glucagonemia. The clinical prospects of the making use of the stimulating action of euphylline, calcium gluconate and isadrin on the function of beta-cells of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis patients are under discussion.