Fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance in the differential diagnosis of steatorrhea.
We reviewed the fecal fat excretion and alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance results of 160 patients with steatorrhea in whom a final diagnosis was obtained, based on history, physical examination, and radiological, functional and morphological tests. Twenty-two patients had pancreatic diseases and 138 had steatorrhea due to gastrointestinal diseases. alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance was invariably normal in chronic pancreatitis, but there was only a 23 to 50% of correct etiological classification when the combination of steatorrhea and normal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance was present. However, none of our patients diagnosed of chronic pancreatitis had abnormal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance. The combination of steatorrhea and normal clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin was a modest clue for diagnosis of pancreatic malabsorption.
Bai
J C
JC
Sugai
E
E
Morán
C
C
Sambuelli
A
A
Vázquez
H
H
Mazure
R
R
Boerr
L
L
Mackenzie
D
D
D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin