Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Pancreatic parameters – amylase, lipase.
- Trypsin [hydrolase secreted by the exocrine pancreas, which can cleave proteins/proteins as a serine protease]
- Elastase in serum, elastase in stool [only meaningful in moderate or severe pancreatic insufficiency].
- Fecal fat excretion [pathological: > 7 g/d; in stool collected for three days with defined food intake, with known fat content]
- Stool examinations – stool culture, microscopic examination.
- Small blood count
- Differential blood count
- Inflammatory parameter – CRP (C-reactive protein)
- Electrolytes – calcium, potassium and magnesium [hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency) in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency].
- Renal parameters – creatinine and urea.
- Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT, GGT).
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and the obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Chymotrypsin in the stool
- 25-Hydroxy vitamin D (synonyms: 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, calcidiol) – due todecreased enteral absorption.
- Tumor markers: CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen) and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).
- CDT (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin) – indicates chronic alcohol consumption.
- Tropheryma whippelii DNA detection – for suspected Whipple’s disease (bacterial infection with Tropheryma whippelii bacterium, which is very difficult to grow).
