[The significance of the evocative test in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)].

To evaluate the predictive value of the evocative test (E.T.) in the diagnosis of pancreatitis, the E.T. was performed in 35 healthy subjects (group I), 65 patients with a presumptive clinical of chronic pancreatitis (group II), and 52 patients with proved chronic pancreatitis (group III). In group I, false positive results were obtained in 11,4% of the patients, the increase in lipase above the upper limit of normal was relatively small. The patients of group II gave abnormal E.T.'s in 63%, reduced faecal chymotrypsin activities being found in 40%, and steatorrhea in 28% of the cases. Positive E.T.'s were associated with abnormal chymotrypsin and faecal fat determinations in 51% and 27%, respectively. In group III,, a positive E.T. was obtained in 60%, the test results show a signifikant negative correlation with the extent of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. In group of patients with confirmed chronic pancreatitis but without steatorhea, the E.T. was positive in 72%. The E.T. has a limited value in the diagnosis of early stages of chronic pancreatitis.