[The effect of salmon calcitonin on pancreatic enzymes and hormones before and after retrograde cholangiopancreatography].

The effect of salmon calcitonin (SMC) on pancreatic enzymes and hormones was investigated following retrograde choledocho-pancreatography (ERCP). 40 patients were randomly divided in two groups and 2.5 micrograms/h SMC or sodium chloride was infused intravenously for 28 hours. Infusion was started 4 hours before endoscopic procedure and amylase, lipase, glucose, insulin, glucagon and gastrin plasma concentrations were measured before and 2, 12 and 24 hours after the end of the ERCP. According to the radiological findings of pancreatography two additional groups were formed: group 1 with visualization of the main duct and its branches and group 2 with additional visualization of the pancreatic parenchyma. No change in glucose, insulin, glucagon and gastrin was found in any of the groups analyzed. Amylase and lipase showed a significant increase after 2 hours and 24 hours later, values were reached which were not significantly different to baseline levels. The time course of the plasma concentrations was identical in the patients treated by SMC or sodium chloride and showed no significant difference at the various time intervals. Therefore, inhibition of the known increase in pancreatic enzymes following ERCP was not found with SMC treatment.