PANCREATIC ELASTASE-1 IN FECES - A NEW PA RAMETER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY

There are only a few tubeless tests available for measuring impairment of pancreatic secretory function. Ail these tests show a relatively l ow sensitivity in respect to mild or moderate exocrine pancreatic insu fficiency. Pancreatic elastase 1 an enzyme in the zymoen granules of t he pancreas is not degrated during intestinal transit. It can be measu red by a very sensitive, humanspecific ELISA using two different monoc lonal antibodies. Uptonow available investigations concerning the vali dity of elastase 1 determination in feces as a parameter of pancreatic insufficiency showed excellent results. This test can therefore be re commended for clinical practice. Our paper tries to give a review of t his new method and presents some new yet not published data.