Ekzokrin Pankreas Yetmezliği: Diyabetin Göz Ardı Edilen Bir Komplikasyonu mudur?

Özet

Malabsorption and malnutrition, which occurafter insufficient synthesis or release of digestive enzymes in the pancreas, are referred to as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency(EPI). Besides the nonspecific symptomssuch as abdominal pain, flatulence, weightloss, and steatorrhea, more specific symptoms and findings may reveal albumin malabsorption and lack of fat-soluble (A, D, E,K) vitamins. EPI can be seen in many localor systemic diseases and conditions whichaffect either structure or function of the pancreas but is most commonly found in chronicpancreatitis (1). Today, the general diagnosis is based on the determination of fecalelastase-1 (FE-1) levels. Patients having FE1 levels > 200 µg/g are assumed to be normal, between 100-200 µg/g are diagnosedas mild/moderate pancreas insufficiency,and <100 µg/g are diagnosed as severepancreas insufficiency (2).