DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF INDIRECT PANCREATIC FUNCTION-TEST IN SERUM OF ANURIC PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

Although patients with chronic renal failure have a high incidence of chronic pancreatic disease, the condition is frequently overlooked. We have modified the pancreolauryl test-an indirect pancreatic function test-for anuric patients. The test permitted good discrimination betwe en patients with chronic pancreatic disease and those with a normal pa ncreas when serum levels of fluorescein were measured 10 h after admin istration with a standard meal. The sensitivity at this time interval was 80% and the specificity 83%. We conclude that the pancreolauryl te st with serum measurements provides a simple, noninvasive, and reliabl e diagnostic test for chronic pancreatic disease in anuric patients wi th chronic renal failure.