Current status of pancreatic stone protein.

Pancreatic stone protein (PSP) has been argued to play a crucial role in intraductal pancreatic stone formation in chronic pancreatitis. PSP was initially reported to inhibit calcium carbonate precipitation from human pancreatic juice and to be decreased in pancreatic secretions from patients with chronic pancreatitis. Recent clinical investigations have further demonstrated elevation of PSP in the serum and urine of patients with renal disease as well as pancreatic disease. However, the PSP reduction in pancreatic secretion in chronic pancreatitis remains controversial. Therefore, we review the current concept of PSP.