This article will take you through the symptoms, possible causes, diagnostic methods, and treatments for EPI.
What Are the Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
The initial symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can be vague, mild, and similar to other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Verywell / JR Bee
Common gastrointestinal symptoms of EPI include:
Othersymptoms of EPIdepend on the underlying cause of the condition.
For example, a person with cystic fibrosis may also have respiratory symptoms.
Causes of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen under the stomach.
The role of the pancreas can be divided into exocrine and endocrine functions.
In EPI, it’s the exocrine function that becomes compromised.
This can happen because of physical damage to the pancreas or disruption of the signals to the organ.
Chronic pancreatitis is the mostcommon cause of EPI.
Inflammation causes the pancreas to become damaged over time, reducing its ability to produce enzymes.
Other conditions disrupt pancreatic function in different ways, such as by blocking ducts that carry enzymes.
Surgery on the pancreas can also lead to reduced function.
There are likely many reasons a person develops EPI, including genetic and lifestyle factors.
The severity of EPI depends on the underlying cause.
Some people will only have mild EPI and may have few (if any) symptoms.
People with mild symptoms may not seek medical treatment.
Those who do seektreatmentmay not be correctly diagnosed with EPI until the condition has become more advanced.
A diagnosis of EPI is typically made after other more common causes of gastrointestinal symptoms have been ruled out.
Two different types of pancreatic function tests can be used:directandindirect.
To directly test the pancreas, it is stimulated with the hormones that signal it to produce digestive enzymes.
While the procedure can be very helpful, it is generally only performed at specialized hospitals or clinics.
If symptoms improve after startingoral enzymeswith meals, it’s a good indicator of EPI.
Can your pancreas recover from EPI?
EPI has no cure and, once diagnosed, must be continually treated to maintain balanced nutrition.
Treatment includes pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which substitutes for missing digestive enzymes.
This dosing schedule helps recreate the normal secretion of digestive enzymes.
Long-term treatment goals for people with EPI will be dependent on properly diagnosing and appropriately treating the underlying cause.
Your healthcare provider may want to periodically test your pancreatic function.
People with underlying conditions such as celiac disease and diabetes may need to adhere to special diets.
In rare cases, people who have EPI and other medical conditions or complications may require surgery.
However, this would be evaluated by a person’s healthcare provider on a case-by-case basis.
Summary
People with EPI often experience a range of symptoms related to specific nutritional deficiencies.
It’s also important that any underlying or associated conditions are also diagnosed and appropriately treated.
The prognosis depends on what is causing the EPI.
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