Alcohol-Stimulated Secretion of Immunoreactive Secretin

MANY pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the role of alcohol in the development of acute pancreatitis in the almost 100 years since "drunkard's pancreas" was first described.1 At present no mechanism has been proved. However a great deal of attention has been paid to the general concept that increased intraductal pressure, caused by secretion against obstruction, may produce disruption of pancreatic radicals and escape of enzymes into the tissues, thereby causing pancreatic damage.2 This hypothesis is strengthened by the observation that all stages of acute pancreatitis have been produced in dogs by incomplete obstruction of the pancreatic duct . . .