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Potential for Screening for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency Using the Fecal Elastase-1 Test

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Abstract

The early diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is hindered because many of the functional diagnostic techniques used are expensive and require specialized facilities, which prevent their widespread availability. We have reviewed current evidence in order to compare the utility of these functional diagnostic techniques with the fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) test in the following three scenarios: screening for PEI in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of pancreatic disease, such as abdominal pain or diarrhea; determining the presence of PEI in patients with an established diagnosis of pancreatic disease, such as chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis; determining exocrine status in disorders not commonly tested for PEI, but which have a known association with this disorder. Evidence suggests the FE-1 test is reliable for the evaluation of pancreatic function in many pancreatic and non-pancreatic disorders. It is non-invasive, is less time-consuming, and is unaffected by pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Although it cannot be considered the gold-standard method for the functional diagnosis of PEI, the advantages of the FE-1 test make it a very appropriate test for screening patients who may be at risk of this disorder.

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Acknowledgments

Editorial assistance was provided to authors during the drafting of this manuscript by Martin Wallace PhD (Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications). Funding for this assistance was provided by Mylan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, C/Choupana s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    J. Enrique Domínguez-Muñoz

  2. Medical Department V, University Hospital, Giessen, Germany

    Philip D. Hardt

  3. Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Markus M. Lerch

  4. Department of Digestive Diseases, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Matthias J. Löhr

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  1. J. Enrique Domínguez-Muñoz
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  2. Philip D. Hardt
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Correspondence to J. Enrique Domínguez-Muñoz.

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Conflicts of interest

Prof. Domínguez-Muñoz has participated in consulting and speaking activities for Abbott Laboratories Ltd., Mylan N.V., and Allergan plc. Prof. Hardt has participated in consulting and speaking activities for Abbott Laboratories Ltd., AbbVie Ltd., and Shire plc. Prof. Lerch has participated in consulting and speaking activities for AbbVie Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Ltd., Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, AstraZeneca plc., Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Centogene AG, and KMG. Prof. Löhr has participated in consulting and speaking activities for Abbott Laboratories Ltd., and consultancy activities for Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG.

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Domínguez-Muñoz, J.E., D. Hardt, P., Lerch, M.M. et al. Potential for Screening for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency Using the Fecal Elastase-1 Test. Dig Dis Sci 62, 1119–1130 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-017-4524-z

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