Citrate and calcium secretion in the pure human pancreatic juice of alcoholic and nonalcoholic men and of chronic pancreatitis patients.

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 130 g 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.