What is pancreatic insufficiency?
The term pancreatic insufficiency describes a sub-function of that part of the pancreas that is responsible for the production of digestive enzymes and bicarbonate. The enzymes that break down nutrients and the bicarbonate, which is intended to neutralise the stomach acid contained in the food pulp, are released into the small intestine via an excretory duct and carry out their tasks there. In the case of pancreatic weakness, the lack of enzymes and bicarbonate leads to various physical symptoms which, together with medical examinations, should lead to a correct diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
By the way: If the other part of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of insulin and its antagonist glucagon, has an underfunction, it is called “endocrine pancreatic weakness”. However, this term is rarely used, as it is simply diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this article will only deal with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency
The main symptoms of pancreatic weakness result from the function of the organ and thus the secretion of digestive enzymes. If insufficient enzymes are produced in a pancreas weakness, this leads to an increased excretion of undigested food components. For example, if undigested fat is excreted via the stool, it colours the stool unusually brightly and makes it smell particularly bad.
The impressive character of this type of stool has even earned it its own name, the “fatty stool”. Fatty stools may be a thoroughly unpleasant symptom of the disease, but most of those affected suffer much more from the additional diarrhea, abdominal pain and flatulence. Not only fat, but also the other nutrients are not digested properly by a weak pancreas and thus, over time, many sufferers develop weight loss or, in children, failure to thrive.
In addition, some affected persons observe an increased tendency to bleed in the course of the disease, which is due to the limited vitamin K intake. Due to the fact that pancreatic insufficiency is often caused by an inflammation of the organ (pancreatitis), the symptoms of the inflammation are also the first signs of pancreatic insufficiency for some affected persons: typical for pancreatitis is a belt-shaped pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes radiating into the back. Due to the fact that pancreatic insufficiency is often caused by an inflammation of the organ (pancreatitis), the symptoms of the inflammation are also the first signs of pancreatic insufficiency for some patients: typical of pancreatitis is a belt-shaped pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes radiating into the back.
Causes of pancreatic weakness
If pancreatic weakness occurs in childhood, it is usually due to cystic fibrosis: The malfunctioning of a gene in this disease results in the production of a secretion that is clearly too viscous (not only in the pancreas, but above all in the airways). This leads to a “sticking” of the excretory ducts of the pancreas and to a backflow of the secretion. As a result, the digestive enzymes contained in the secretion to a certain extent start to digest the organ itself.
In adults, acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is by far the most common cause. Acute inflammation is usually caused by a gallstone blocking the common duct of the gallbladder and pancreas. According to the same principle as described above for cystic fibrosis, this promotes “self-digestion” by the organ.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, most often results from chronic alcohol consumption. You can find more detailed information on this topic at Pancreatitis – How dangerous is it? In adults, acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is by far the most common cause.
Acute inflammation is usually caused by a gallstone blocking the common duct between the gallbladder and pancreas. According to the same principle as described above for cystic fibrosis, this promotes “self-digestion” by the organ. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, most often results from chronic alcohol consumption. You can find more detailed information on this topic at Pancreatitis – How dangerous is it?
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