ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of pancreatic elastase-1(PE-1) in patients with pancreatic diseases and compare the significance of PE-1 with that of pancreatic exocrine function test by pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) collection. METHODS: For evaluation of PE-1, seventy nine patients with pancreatic diseases were examined. For evaluation of exocrine pancreatic function by PPJ, twenty three patients with Chronic pancreatitis(CP) were examined. PPJ was collected by endoscopic cannulation of main pancreatic duct under the intravenous bolus injection of secretin (0.25 CU/kg body weight) and cholecystokinin (CCK, 40 ng/kg body weight). RESULTS: Pancreatic exocrine functions were significantly decreased in patients with CP showing moderate and severe ductal changes on pancreatogram. The mean concentration of fecal PE-1 was significantly decreased in patients with CP and pancreatic cancer, but not in patients with acute pancreatitis. When we analyzed the PE-1 concentration according to Cambridge classification, the concentration of fecal PE-1 was significantly decreased only in patients with moderate and severe CP. With a cut off of 200 ug fecal PE-1/g, the sensitivity of PE-1 was 25%, 60%, and 100%, respectively, for mild, moderate and severe CP, and the specificity was 88.1%. The mean concentration of serum PE-1 was increased both in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis, but there was no difference between both group. CONCLUSION: Fecal PE-1 is useful for diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in patients with CP, especially in moderate and severe grade of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The diagnostic value of fecal PE-1 was also similar to secretin-CCK test in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.