Comparison of fecal elastase 1 for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency evaluation between ex-alcoholics and chronic pancreatitis patients.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Fecal elastase is a noninvasive test for pancreatic insufficiency diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES:

Evaluate the usefulness of fecal elastase 1 for the indication of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among former alcohol addicts and patients with chronic pancreatitis.

METHODS:

Forty-three patients with chronic pancreatitis and thirty-three asymptomatic former alcohol addicts entered the study. The levels of fecal elastase 1 were measured using a commercial kit. Pancreatic imaging findings were used to categorize the groups.

RESULTS:

The levels of fecal elastase 1 were significantly lower in the patients than in the former alcohol addicts and in the group with tissue calcifications, duct alterations, or atrophy. With a cutoff level of 100 μg/g, the sensitivity of fecal elastase 1 in chronic pancreatitis was 46.51% and its specificity was 87.88% with a positive predictive value of 83.33% and a negative predictive value of 55.77%. When patients were stratified according to the severity of their pancreatitis, the sensitivity was 6.25% for mild pancreatitis and 70.37% for marked pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION:

Low level of fecal elastase 1 was associated with marked rather than mild chronic pancreatitis; however, it may be useful to indicate pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in asymptomatic former alcohol addicts.

• Authors: Rejane Mattar, Gustavo André Silva Lima, Marianges Zadrozny Gouvêa da Costa, Joyce M Kinoshita Silva-Etto, Dulce Guarita, Flair José Carrilho
• Journal: Arquivos de gastroenterologia (Arq Gastroenterol) 2014 Oct-Dec Vol. 51 Issue 4 Pg. 297-301 ISSN: 1678-4219 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 25591157 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Pancreatic Elastase

Topics

• Alcoholism (complications)
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Feces (chemistry)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Elastase (analysis)
• Pancreatitis, Chronic (complications)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Severity of Illness Index