Pancreatic exocrine function in rosacea.

As some rosacea patients complain of gastrointestinal troubles and the administration of pancreatic extracts ameliorates both dyspepsia and skin lesions, the pancreatic exocrine function in 21 subjects affected with rosacea has been investigated by means of the secretin-cerulein infusion test. 21 healthy controls have been studied for comparison. No difference was found between rosacea and control subjects for flow rate, bicarbonate and chymotrypsin concentration and output, while lipase concentration and output was significantly lower in rosacea patients, with a decrease ranging from 18.5 to 66% of normal values. Therefore, a deficient lipase secretion could be responsible, at least partly, for the clinical manifestations of rosacea.