Fecal elastase1 and acid steatocrit estimation in chronic pancreatitis.
Loading...
Date
2009-11
Authors
Girish, Banavara Narasimhamurthy
Rajesh, Gopalakrishna
Vaidyanathan, Kannan
Balakrishnan, Vallath
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background Measurement of pancreatic exocrine function and steatorrhea in chronic pancreatitis in the clinical setting has not received much attention.
Aim To assess pancreatic exocrine function and fecal fat
excretion in a cohort of patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Methods Stool elastase1 levels were measured in 101 patients
using polyclonal ELISA and acid steatocrit was measured in
86 chronic pancreatitis patients. Associations with etiology,
clinical and radiological features, and diabetic status were
examined.
Results Low pancreatic stool elastase1 (<200 μg/g stool) was
observed in two-thirds of chronic pancreatitis patients and
correlated with ductal dilatation, pancreatic atrophy and calcification
(p<0.05). Diabetes was more prevalent in chronic
pancreatitis patients with low elastase1 (p=0.045). There was
no difference in mean acid steatocrit between diabetics and
non-diabetics (p=0.069). Elastase1 levels had a negative correlation
with acid steatocrit (r=–0.606, p<0.001), and a positive
correlation (r=0.412) with body mass index (p=0.013). Fiftythree
percent of chronic pancreatitis patients with normal
BMI had low elastase1.
Conclusions Fecal elastase1 levels correlated with fecal fat
excretion and BMI. Fecal elastase1 estimation may be helpful in early detection of malabsorption in chronic pancreatitis.
Description
Keywords
Acid steatocrit, diabetes, pancreatic exocrine function test, steatorrhea
Citation
Girish Banavara Narasimhamurthy, Rajesh Gopalakrishna, Vaidyanathan Kannan, Balakrishnan Vallath. Fecal elastase1 and acid steatocrit estimation in chronic pancreatitis. Indian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009 Nov-Dec; 28(6): 201-205.