Coeliac disease and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

The data have shown that pancreatic insufficiency, demonstrated by low faecal pancreatic elastase-1 levels, is common in adult coeliac disease patients.
Until now, there has been limited data regarding the prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency amongst adult patients with coeliac disease. Our data have shown that pancreatic insufficiency, demonstrated by low faecal pancreatic elastase-1 levels, is common in adult coeliac disease patients, especially those with persisting diarrhoea.

More specifically, we have shown that those patients may benefit from treatment with pancreatic enzyme supplementation. When faced with this clinical problem of ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms it is valuable to check the patients′ FE1 and prescribe enzyme replacement therapy when indicated.

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