Effect of bromhexine hydrochloride therapy for alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

Abstinence is a prerequisite for the treatment of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, but there are patients who have repeated attacks because of their inability to abstain and the consequent congestive effects of the continued alcohol intake on pancreatic juice. Bromhexine hydrochloride, a bronchial mucolytic, has an affinity for acinar cells and causes them to secrete pancreatic juice of low viscosity. Twelve patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, who were unable to abstain from drinking, were administered bromhexine hydrochloride for 6 months to assess its therapeutic efficacy. Of 12 patients administered bromhexine, 8 (67%) reported symptomatic improvement, and all patients showed improvement in the levels of pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic exocrine function also tended to improve, but no improvement of pancreatic endocrine function was detected. Although none of the pancreatic stones present in some patients disappeared, a protein plug present in one patient disappeared, accompanied by improvement in the irregular outline of the lumen of the main pancreatic duct. Bromhexine hydrochloride may be a new for the morbidity of chronic pancreatitis, in which there is increased viscosity of the pancreatic juice and formation of a protein plug.