Elevated fasting plasma level of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (CAP).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate fasting plasma level of islet amyloid polypeptide in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and its possible correlation with the extent of pancreatic structural damage as well as endocrine function.


METHODS
Fifty-seven non-obese patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and 20 healthy subjects were studied. In all subjects RIA plasma fasting amylin, insulin and C-peptide estimation were performed.


RESULTS
In patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, particularly in those with advanced pancreatic structural damage in imaging techniques, fasting plasma amylin levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in controls. Within chronic alcoholic pancreatitis group the highest plasma islet amyloid polypeptide values of 139.0 +/- 8.7 pg/100 microL were found in patients with glucose impaired tolerance, which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in patients with normal endocrine pancreatic function, non-insulin requiring and insulin requiring diabetes where the respective values were: 69.1 +/- 9.2 pg/100 microL, 75.5 +/- 5.2 pg/100 microL and 84.7 +/- 12.5 pg/100 microL.


CONCLUSIONS
Those findings suggest that islet amyloid polypeptide may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. In addition increased plasma islet amyloid polypeptide level may prove useful as an indicator of an early phase of pancreatic endocrine function impairment and severe parenchymal damage in chronic pancreatitis.
Gasiorowska
Anita
A
Department of Digestive Tract Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Orszulak-Michalak
Daria
D
Kozlowska
Alicja
A
Malecka-Panas
Ewa
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000682:Amyloid / Q000097:blood*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000097:blood*; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005215:Fasting / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000682:Amyloid; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide