title: Fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance in the differential diagnosis of steatorrhea.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sugai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morán
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sambuelli
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazure
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boerr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin