Pancreatic Elastase Levels in Feces As A Marker of Exocrine Pancreatic Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Ranka N Kangrga; Svetlana D Ignjatović; Mirjana M Dragašević; Snežana Ž Jovičić; Nada T Majkić-Singh

doi:10.1093/labmed/lmw015

Pancreatic Elastase Levels in Feces As A Marker of Exocrine Pancreatic Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Lab Med. 2016 May;47(2):140-8. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmw015.

Authors

Ranka N Kangrga¹, Svetlana D Ignjatović², Mirjana M Dragašević³, Snežana Ž Jovičić⁴, Nada T Majkić-Singh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
² Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Department for Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
³ Clinic for Endocrinology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, and.
⁴ 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.
⁵ Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.

PMID: 27069032
DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmw015

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.

Method: 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).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated a strong association of diabetes with low PE levels.

Keywords: ELISA; biomarker; diabetes mellitus; feces; pancreatic elastase; pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomarkers / analysis*
Cohort Studies
Diabetes Complications / diagnosis
Diabetes Complications / epidemiology*
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / diagnosis
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / epidemiology*
Feces / chemistry*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Elastase / analysis*
Pancreatic Function Tests
Young Adult

Substances

Biomarkers
Pancreatic Elastase