Is zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid a marker for pancreatic diseases?
OBJECTIVE
An imbalance of free radicals and scavenging processes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pancreatic tissue injury. Gradual decreases in antioxidant enzyme expression in pancreatic cells from normal pancreas to chronic pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer have been reported. Zinc is one of the components of antioxidant enzymes and may play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases. A recent report showed a significant decrease in pancreatic zinc output in patients with chronic pancreatitis and proposed that zinc output can be used as an alternative to enzyme output for the diagnosis. We aimed to determine the zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid of patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreas.


METHODS
Seventy-five consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated. Chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed in 20 patients by ERCP (n=16) and histology (n=4). Pancreatic cancer was diagnosed in 17 patients by cytology from EUS-FNA (n=12) or surgical pathology (n=5). Thirty-eight patients were confirmed to have normal pancreas.


METHODS
Patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy following intravenous secretin injection (0.2 microg/kg). Pancreatic fluid collected for 10 minutes was immediately frozen at -80 degrees C and stored until the assay was performed.


METHODS
Zinc concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.


RESULTS
Among the three groups, patients with pancreatic cancer were significant older (P<0.001) with a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P=0.002). Gender distribution (P=0.098), body mass index (P=0.925), and history of alcohol use (P=0.997) were similar among groups. Zinc concentrations in pancreatic fluid were not significantly different among groups (P=0.129).


CONCLUSIONS
Zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid was comparable in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreas. Zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid collected by our 10-minute endoscopic method cannot reliably be used for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and/or pancreatic cancer.
Pungpapong
Surakit
S
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Scolapio
James S
JS
Woodward
Timothy A
TA
Wallace
Michael B
MB
Raimondo
Massimo
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D015032:Zinc