Elastase; stool

The elastase marker allows for the diagnosis and exclusion of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and its degree of severity. It can give insights into digestive function and is included in the Comprehensive Stool Analysis and Stool Chemistry tests. Significant insufficiency may be related to chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic tumours, cholelithiasis, diabetes mellitis and small intestinal diseases. Elastase is a general marker, so this test does not differentiate between pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis and that due to pancreatic cancer.