ECHO-DUPLEX EVALUATION OF THE SUPERIOR MESENTERIC-ARTERY IN CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS

Objective: To compare haemodynamic changes in the superior mesenteric artery with morphological abnormalities of chronic pancreatitis, using non-invasive echo-Duplex ultrasonography. Patients: The study include d 14 patients with chronic pancreatitis who were evaluated by echo-Dup lex ultrasonography and compared with 14 normal subjects. Intervention s: The parameters evaluated included the peak systolic velocity, the e nd-diastolic velocity, the resistance index and the vessel diameter. R esults: In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the peak systolic and e nd-diastolic velocities were significantly higher than those in the co ntrols (P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively). The resistance index for the superior mesenteric artery was significantly lower in patients with c hronic pancreatitis than that in controls (P=0.03). A morphological ev aluation of the superior mesenteric artery also revealed a significant increase in the vessel diameter in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with controls (P=0.03). Conclusion: The alterations in peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities seem to be determined by an incr ease in vessel diameter and, most probably, by modifications in the co ncentrations of vasoactive gastrointestinal peptides.