Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Common card · No. 401380

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is the inability to properly digest food due to a lack or reduction of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas. EPI can occur in humans and is prevalent in many conditions such as cystic fibrosis, Shwachman–Diamond syndrome, different types of pancreatitis, multiple types of diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes), advanced renal disease, older adults, celiac disease, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), HIV, alcohol-related liver disease, Sjogren syndrome, tobacco use, and use of somatostatin analogues. EPI is caused by a progressive loss of the pancreatic cells that make digestive enzymes (acinar cells). Loss of digestive enzymes leads to maldigestion and malabsorption of nutrients from normal digestive processes. EPI can cause symptoms even before reaching the stages of malnutrition: 'mild' or 'moderate' EPI is when fecal elastase levels are <200 ug/g, whereas 'severe' EPI is considered...

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