Endoscopic measurement of pancreatic tissue perfusion in patients with chronic pancreatitis and control patients

Background: Pancreatic blood flow is diminished in experimental models of a cute and chronic pancreatitis. We attempted to develop a safe and reliable technique for its measurement in patients and to examine blood flow in pati ents with chronic pancreatitis and in control subjects. Method: Pancreatic blood flow was measured using the hydrogen gas clearance technique and an endoscopically placed platinum ductal electrode. Pancreat ic blood flow was measured in 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis diagnos ed clinically and radiographically, and in 11 control patients undergoing e ndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for non-pancreatic pat hology. Results: Patients with chronic pancreatitis had a significantly lower pancr eatic blood flow compared with control patients (51.5 versus 91.7 ml/min/10 0 gm, p < 0.01). With secretin stimulation pancreatic blood flow increased in two control patients, whereas this notable rise was not seen in three pa tients with chronic pancreatitis. Conclusions: Measurement of pancreatic blood flow with an endoscopically pl aced electrode is relatively safe and simple to perform. The scarring and v ascular fibrosis associated histologically with chronic pancreatitis is ref lected in lower pancreatic blood flow.