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Fecal elastase1 and acid steatocrit estimation in chronic pancreatitis

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Lane, Ponekkara PO, Cochin, 682 041, Kerala, India

    Banavara Narasimhamurthy Girish

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Lane, Ponekkara PO, Cochin, 682 041, Kerala, India

    Gopalakrishna Rajesh & Vallath Balakrishnan

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Lane, Ponekkara PO, Cochin, 682 041, Kerala, India

    Kannan Vaidyanathan

Authors
  1. Banavara Narasimhamurthy Girish
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  2. Gopalakrishna Rajesh
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  3. Kannan Vaidyanathan
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  4. Vallath Balakrishnan
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Correspondence to Vallath Balakrishnan.

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Girish, B.N., Rajesh, G., Vaidyanathan, K. et al. Fecal elastase1 and acid steatocrit estimation in chronic pancreatitis. Indian J Gastroenterol 28, 201–205 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-009-0079-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-009-0079-z

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