Effect of spa-drink therapy on exocrine pancreatic function

膵外分泌機能におよぼす飲泉（三朝温泉水）の効果を飲泉群および非飲泉群を対象として検討した。膵外分泌機能検査法としては，糞便中キモトリプシン活性比色測定法（モノテストカイモトリプシン）を用いた。その結果，糞便中キモトリプシン活性は，飲泉開始2週後に40 ％ の患者で上昇し，4週後は2週後と変わらなかった。以上より，2週間の飲泉は膵外分泌機能を改善させる効果があることがわかった。The effect of spa-drink therapy (Misasa hot spring) on exocrine pancreatic function was studied on 18 patients after their physical and psychological conditions were stabilized about two weeks following hospitalization. Patients were randomly divided into two groups : eight patients into a control group (continuance of spa-bathing) and 10 patients into a spa-drink therapy group (continuance of spa-bathing plus commencement of spa-drink therapy). Spa-drink therapy refers to drinking 200mℓ of warm spa-water (42℃) two times a day : between meals in the morning and in the afternoon. Exocrine pancreatic function was evaluated by fecal chymotrypsin activity, using a colorimetric method (Boehringer-Mannheim). Following results were obtained : 1) With 2-week's spa-drink therapy, fecal chymotrypsin activity was significantly enhanced in 40 % of the patients, while none of the controls showed an increase in fecal chymotrypsin activity. 2) Fecal chymotrypsin activity at the time of 4 weeks was similar to that obtained at the time of 2 weeks in both groups. In conclusion, spa-drink therapy for 2 weeks was effective for the enhancement of exocrine pancreatic function