Vnitr Lek 2013, 59(1):65-70

Specificities of the diagnostics and therapy of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

P. Dítě^1,*, I. Novotný², P. Kocna³, M. Bojková⁴, T. Kupka⁴, H. Nechutová⁵, B. Kianička⁵

¹ Akademické centrum gastroenterologie a gastroonkologie OU Ostrava, vedoucí pracoviště prof. MUDr. Petr Dítě, DrSc.

² Gastroenterologické oddělení Masarykova onkologického ústavu Brno, vedoucí pracoviště MUDr. Milana Šachlová, CSc. et Ph.D.

³ Ústav lékařské biochemie a laboratorní diagnostiky 1. lékařské fakulty UK a VFN Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. Tomáš Zima, DrSc., MBA

⁴ Interní klinika Lékařské fakulty OU a FN Ostrava, přednosta doc. MUDr. Arnošt Martínek, CSc.

⁵ Gastroenterologické oddělení II. interní kliniky Lékařské fakulty MU a FN u sv. Anny Brno, přednosta prof. MUDr. Miroslav Souček, CSc.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency develops steadily; however, the initial reduction in secretion is practically not diagnosable. More advanced stages, which usually replicate morphological changes, can be determined with tests which asses the exocrine pancreatic capacity. Substantial damage of the pancreas and replacement of viable parenchyma with connective tissue is accompanied by the occurrence of steatorrhoea. This corresponds to a reduction in exocrine pancreatic secretion below 10% of physiological secretion. Exocrine pancreatic secretion tests are still not sufficiently sensitive for diagnosing early stages of pancreas defects and thus are not suitable for diagnostics. Furthermore, detecting reduced exocrine secretion does not provide any information about the aetiology of the disease, e.g. inflammation/tumor. The most precise test is a costly examination, including a stimulation of the gland with enterohormones; however, breath tests are usually recommended for the assessment of exocrine insufficiency therapy. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency therapy consists of administering drugs containing pancreatin (amylase, lipase, and peptidase) to patients diagnosed with steatorrhoea, manifest pancreatic insufficiency. As standard, capsules containing microparticles of 1-2mm are recommended. They have a protective coating that prevents inactivation in the microparticles of the contained enzymes by gastric hydrochloric acid. The drug should be administered during each meal, i.e. several times a day. The most common mistake during pancreatic enzyme therapy is underdosage. The following rule applies to patients with digestive insufficiency: 40,000-50,000 UNT of lipase are to be administered during "main meals" and 25,000 UNT of lipase during morning or afternoon snacks. The drug should be taken during the meal; insufficient treatment and dosage are associated with insufficient digestion and absorption of a number of substances and also with pancreatic malabsorption.

Keywords: pancreatic secretion; pancreatic enzymes; pancreatin; pancreatic secretion tests

Received: October 19, 2012; Accepted: November 29, 2012; Published: January 1, 2013  Show citation