Faecal elastase-1: clinical value in the assessment of exocrine pancreaticfunction in children

The high sensitivity of fecal elastase-1 test is limited in mild forms of e xocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The specificity in the differentiation be tween "primary" exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and intestinal malabsorpt ion is rather poor. However, the test may be considered as a sensitive tool in the assessment of exocrine pancreatic function regardless of the cause of the insufficiency.