- Fecal elastase
Fecal elastase refers to the testing of the
concentration of the pancreaticelastase -1enzyme found in fecal matter with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA ). Results of this test can give a good indication of exocrine pancreatic status and is less invasive and expensive that the current “gold standard”, secretin-cholecystokinin test. [Molinari, I., et al., "Fecal chymotrypsin and elastase-1 determination on one single stool collected at random: diagnostic value for exocrine pancreatic status." Clin Biochem, 2004. 37(9): p. 758-763. PMID 15329313] Levels of fecal elastase lower than 200 μg / g of stool indicate an exocrine insufficiency. Correlations between low levels and chronic pancreatitis [Fecal Elastase 1 ELISA For Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Comparison With ERCP-Morphology And Fecal Fat Excretion [http://www.uniklinikum-giessen.de/med3/poster/publ_pdf/118.pdf] ] and cancer [Role of Fecal Elastase 1 in Pancreatic Cancer: A Pilot Study [http://www.joplink.net/prev/200409/59.html] ] have been reported.Notes and references
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