Pancreatitis:

 Acute: serum or plasma amylase or lipase, serum

calcium, plasma glucose.
 Chronic: function tests: secretin +
cholecystokinin + pancreozymin then measure
products such as bicarbonate, amylase and lipase.
Lundh / pancreolauryl /
faecal chymotrypsin/elastase.
Rarely done.
Maldigestion and malabsorption

Maldigestion show lack of pancreatic

enzymes/function.
Symptoms of malabsorptive
diseases and the laboratory tests:
 Skin and mucosa – vitamins, metals.
 Muscles weak – calcium, magnesium.
 Tetany – calcium, magnesium.
 Weight loss.
 Bone pain – ALP, calcium, phosphate.
 Anaemia – iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate
Symptoms and laboratory tests:
 Oedema – albumin.
 Growth – growth hormone, sex hormone.
 Diarrhoea – serum electrolytes (VIP)
 Peripheral neuropathy – vitamins,
(glucose).
Causes of malabsorption/
maldigestion.
 Poor food
 Poor teeth
 Gastric acid decreased
 Intrinsic factor decreased
 Bile salts decreased
 Pancreatic enzymes decreased
More causes of
malabsorption/maldigestion.
 Insufficient intestinal surface area
 Parasitic infections
 Lymphatic diseases.
Malabsorption due to coeliac
disease

Irish, symptoms variable.

Coeliac: