Condition Lookup
Category:
Pancreatic Disorders
Number of Conditions: 2
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Pancreatic Disorders
Sub-category: Digestive Enzyme Deficiencies
Symptoms:
steatorrhea (fatty stools); diarrhea; weight loss; abdominal pain; bloating; malnutrition; vitamin deficiencies (a, d, e, k)
Root Cause:
Insufficient production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas, leading to impaired digestion and nutrient absorption.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Fecal elastase-1 test, direct pancreatic function tests, imaging studies (CT or MRI) to identify underlying pancreatic pathology.
Treatment:
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), dietary modifications (low-fat diet, supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins).
Medications:
Pancreatic enzyme supplements like pancrelipase (Creon, Zenpep, Pancrease); these contain lipase, protease, and amylase to aid digestion.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated prevalence varies; more common in individuals with chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, or pancreatic surgery.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, pancreatic surgery, alcoholism.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with proper enzyme replacement and dietary management; untreated EPI can lead to severe malnutrition and quality-of-life impairment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Malnutrition, osteoporosis, chronic diarrhea, increased risk of infections due to vitamin deficiencies.
Hereditary Pancreatitis
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Pancreatic Disorders
Sub-category: Genetic Pancreatic Disorders
Symptoms:
recurrent episodes of abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; jaundice; steatorrhea; chronic fatigue; weight loss
Root Cause:
Genetic mutations (e.g., PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR) leading to abnormal pancreatic enzyme activity and recurrent inflammation of the pancreas.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Genetic testing, family history, imaging studies (CT or MRI), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Treatment:
Pain management, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), dietary modifications, and in severe cases, total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation.
Medications:
Analgesics (acetaminophen , NSAIDs, or opioids for severe pain), pancreatic enzyme supplements, antioxidants to reduce inflammation.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare condition, accounting for less than 1% of chronic pancreatitis cases; higher prevalence in families with known mutations.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Positive family history, specific genetic mutations (e.g., PRSS1 mutation).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on frequency and severity of episodes. Higher risk of developing diabetes and pancreatic cancer over time.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, pancreatic cancer.