Sensitivity and specificity of quantitative determination of pancreatic elastase 1 in feces of children.
BACKGROUND
The secretin-pancreozymin test has been accepted as the gold standard for testing exocrine pancreatic function. However, this test is invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. Therefore, in daily practice, more simple, indirect methods are proposed.


METHODS
The fecal concentration of human pancreatic elastase (E1) has been assessed for diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. For sensitivity, fecal E1 determination in 23 healthy children were studied.


RESULTS
Sensitivity to detect pancreatic insufficiency was 100% and specificity 96%.


CONCLUSIONS
Fecal E1 concentration appears to be a more sensitive and specific test of pancreatic function than other tests.
Soldan
W
W
Department of Pediatrics, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Henker
J
J
Sprössig
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D010196:Pancreatic Elastase