Pancreatic exocrine function in African patients

Abstract

1. 1. African subjects in Uganda had a normal response to a secretin-pancreozymin test of exocrine pancreatic function. 2. 2. Patients with pancreatic lithiasis had gross impairment of both fluid volume and bicarbonate output during the test; in addition, 4 patients with diabetes mellitus without lithiasis had abnormal responses. 3. 3. 7 of 10 patients with protein calorie malnutrition had moderately impaired exocrine function. 4. 4. The significance of these findings, and the need for a suitable test of exocrine pancreatic function in children, are discussed.