title: Pancreatic Elastase Levels in Feces As A Marker of Exocrine Pancreatic Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The measurement of pancreatic elastase (PE) in feces is used widely to screen for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship of PE with residual beta cell secretion and metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the presence of PE in specimens via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas serum fasting glucose, C-peptide, amylase, lipase, triglycerides, total 25(OH)-vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations were assayed using routine laboratory tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PE values in 48 patients with diabetes were significantly lower than in 24 healthy volunteers (P = 001). In one-third of participants with diabetes mellitus, PE were less than 200 µg per g, indicating pancreatic functional insufficiency. Among the patients in the cohort, PE correlated positively with C-peptide levels (P = 04), lipase (P = 009), CRP (P = 04), sex (P = 03), and BMI (P = 02) but not significantly with duration of diabetes (P = 81) or levels of HbA1c(P = 87), amylase (P = 06), total 25(OH)-vitamin D (P = 16), or triglycerides (P = 52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated a strong association of diabetes with low PE levels.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ranka N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kangrga
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Department for Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Svetlana D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ignjatović
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Endocrinology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, and.
authors.forename: Mirjana M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dragašević
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Department for Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia, snezanaj@pharmacy.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Snežana Ž
authors.initials: SŽ
authors.lastname: Jovičić
authors.affiliation: Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nada T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Majkić-Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis*; D010186:Pancreatic Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase
keywords: ELISA; biomarker; diabetes mellitus; feces; pancreatic elastase; pancreatic exocrine insufficiency