Shortage of injectable secretin

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable secretin. ChiRhoClin, Inc., does not give a reason for the shortage for their brand name injectable synthetic human secretin, ChiRhoStim. When the stomach has finished working on the food you eat, a valve opens and its contents move into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum. When the acid stomach contents hit the wall of the duodenum, specialized cells release secretin. The secretin causes the pancreas to dump its digestive enzymes into the duodenum along with a lot of bicarbonate to neutralize the acidity. Secretin also inhibits the production of another hormone called gastrin that makes the stomach produce acid.

ChiRhoStim is injected to check whether the pancreas is functioning normally. If a device called an endoscope is inserted into the duodenum, visual confirmation that the pancreas is emptying into the duodenum can be obtained. The endoscope is also a way of locating the Ampulla of Vater, the opening into the duodenum from the pancreas.

A third use for ChiRhoStim is diagnosing tumors called gastrinomas. Instead of inhibiting gastrin production like it does with a normal stomach, secretin causes gastrinomas to secrete gastrin, which can then be detected.