What is elastase?
Elastase (also pancreatic elastase) is a pancreas-specific enzyme. This means that it is produced exclusively in the pancreas, in the so-called acinar cells. The pancreas releases pancreatic elastase as an inactivated enzyme into the small intestine. There it is activated by certain substances and can perform its task – the cleavage of food components, more precisely amino acids (building blocks of proteins).
The doctor determines the elastase in the stool if he suspects exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This is a functional disorder of the part of the pancreas that produces digestive enzymes such as pancreatic elastase. Suspicion of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency arises when someone has complaints such as:
- Nausea
- vomiting
- @ Weight loss
- diarrhea
- Fatty stools (steatorrhea)
Elastase: normal values
|
Type of sample |
Normal value |
|
Chair |
> 200 µg/g |
|
Blood serum |
|
|
Secretion of the pancreas |
0.16 to 0.45 g/l |
When is elastase decreased?
If the elastase value in the stool is between 100 and 200 micrograms per gram (µg/g), we speak of a mild to moderate weakness of the pancreas (pancreatic insufficiency). Values below 100 µg/g stool already indicate a severe functional disorder. This is found, for example, in the context of the following diseases:
- Pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma)
- Cysts of the pancreas
- Narrowing of the excretory duct of the pancreas
Other diseases with decreased elastase in stool are cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis) and hemochromatosis (iron storage disease).
When is elastase elevated?
What to do if elastase values change?
If not already done, the physician will determine other laboratory values in addition to elastase (blood count, C-reactive protein, pancreatic lipase and pancreatic amylase). An ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs is also useful. Depending on the cause of the altered elastase values, the physician finally initiates appropriate treatment.