Pancreatic Elastase, Fecal

Can be used for the diagnosis or the exclusion of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which may be associated with chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, carcinoma of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, and other etiologies of pancreatic insufficiency.

The polyclonal antibodies used in this assay are specifically directed against defined sequences of the human pancreatic elastase molecule. The enzyme stability is remarkably high despite its proteolytic activity, as elastase is found in feces in about a sixfold concentration as in pancreatic fluid. The determination of enzyme concentration in feces reflects the exocrine secretory capacity of the pancreas.