EXOCRINE PANCREATIC FUNCTION IN PORPHYRIA CUTANEA TARDA

. Pancreatic exocrine function has been studied in 18 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda by determination of trypsin concentration in duodenal aspirate after a standardized test meal. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 22 healthy subjects and in a group of 18 chronic alcoholics without a history of pancreatic disease. There were no statistically significant differences between the means of the groups studied. Furthermore, no patient with porphyria cutanea tarda had a value below the range of the group of healthy non-alcoholic controls. In the group of chronic alcoholics one had a value below the normal range.