title: On the pathogenesis of pancreatic ascites.
abstract: The pancreatic ascites of 2 patients and the drainage fluid collected adjacent to the pancreas postoperatively of 1 of them were analyzed for protein composition and enzyme activity. We did not find a proteolytic activity, especially enzymatically active trypsin and chymotrypsin in these fluids. Immunoreactive (inactive) trypsin was, however, present in rather high concentrations. The drainage fluid changed from an inflammatory exudate to a fluid similar in composition to pancreatic juice later on. Our results indicate that pancreatic ascites consist of a combination of enzyme-rich pancreatic fluid and protein-rich exudate from the inflamed pancreas. No evidence of peritonitis or of proteolytic activity capable of inducing peritonitis was found.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D001201:Ascites / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014357:Trypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin