Variability of fecal pancreatic elastase measurements in cystic fibrosis patients.
J Cyst Fibros
; 1(4): 265-8, 2002 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15463825
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
the fecal pancreatic elastase-1 (EL-1) test is a new non-invasive test for pancreatic function. The aim of the study was to evaluate the intra-patient variability of the fecal EL-1 test in a cystic fibrosis (CF) population.METHODS:
26 CF patients were recruited. Mean patient (S.D.) age was 13.7 years (5.39). Nineteen patients had classical pancreatic insufficiency (PI) based on a clinical syndrome of malabsorption plus steatorrhea on a 72 h fecal fat balance. They were all treated with enzyme supplements. Four patients had classical pancreatic sufficiency (PS) no symptoms of malabsorption, no steatorrhea on a 72 h fecal fat balance, no enzyme treatment. Two patients had symptoms suggestive of PI but had a normal 72 h fecal fat balance (doubtful pancreatic status (PD)). The CF patients were asked to collect stool samples on 7 consecutive days. EL-1 content in the samples was measured in duplicate. A cut-off of 200 microgEL-1/g stool was used for diagnosing PI.RESULTS:
mean intra-assay variability was 4.06%. All PI patients had EL-1 levels below detection limit. For the PS group maximal intra-patient variability was 35%, one stool sample EL-1 level was below the 200-microg cut-off. In the PD group the maximal intra-patient variability was 37% and EL-1 levels were inconclusive for the diagnosis of PI in both patients.CONCLUSIONS:
the EL-1 test can be used for diagnosing severe PI in CF patients with overt clinical symptoms of malabsorption. However, in CF patients where the clinical picture is less clear the EL-1 test may be inconclusive due to significant intra-patient variability.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
/
Pancreatic Elastase
/
Cystic Fibrosis
/
Feces
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
J Cyst Fibros
Year:
2002
Document type:
Article