para Médicos
Stool Elastase Test
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Dados do National Institutes of Health
| Stool Elastase Test : What is a stool elastase test? A stool elastase test measures the amount of elastase in your stool (poop). Elastase is a type of digestive enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. The pancreas, a gland that sits behind your stomach, makes these digestive enzymes to help your body break down food and absorb nutrients. Your body can then use these nutrients for energy, growth, and repairing cells. While some of your digestive enzymes help to break down fats and carbohydrates, elastase specifically breaks down proteins. Your pancreas releases elastase into your small intestine through a duct (a small tube). It then travels into your large intestine and eventually passes out of your body in your stool. If the amount of elastase in your stool is lower than what is healthy, it may mean that your pancreas can't make or release enough elastase and other digestive enzymes. This may be a sign of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). EPI happens when problems with pancreatic enzymes prevent your small intestine from completely digesting food. If you have EPI, your body may not absorb enough vitamins, minerals, and calories from food. This is called malabsorption, and it can cause weight loss and low levels of certain nutrients. Severe cases can lead to malnutrition. EPI is caused by conditions that damage the pancreas or block the ducts that let elastase flow into the intestine. The two main causes of EPI are: - Chronic (long-lasting) pancreatitis in adults. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. - Cystic fibrosis in children. This disease is inherited (passed down through families) and causes mucus to build up in the pancreas, lungs, and other organs. Other conditions that can cause EPI include: - Repeated episodes of acute (short-term) pancreatitis - Pancreatic cancer - Crohn's disease - Celiac disease - Ulcerative colitis - Diabetes - Weight-loss surgery and other surgery on the digestive system - Certain genetic disorders, such as Shwachman-Diamond syndrome in children Other names: pancreatic elastase, fecal pancreatic elastase, fecal elastase, FE-1, EL-1, PE-1, PE stool | |
| Review Date: 16/10/2026 | Updated By: |