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Measurement of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in IBD and the Real-World

May 2, 2023 7:00 am

J Fernandez et al. JPGN 2023; 76: 475-479. Prevalence of Exocrine Pancreatic Dysfunction Based on Direct Function Testing in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Methods: Direct stimulated endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT) was performed in 74 children with IBD

Key findings:

42 (56.7%) children had either generalized or partial exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
Weight z scores were significantly lower in those with abnormal ePFT (Crohn cases: P = 0.008; UC cases: P = 0.046).

In their discussion, the authors assert: “We can confidently recommend ePFT in established or new IBD patients who have stricturing and/or penetrating CD, weight loss, low weight Z-score, or qualify for the diagnosis of malnutrition.”

My take: In my real-world experience (~30 years), I have yet to have one patient presenting with IBD who needed pancreatic enzyme supplementation to reverse growth failure/malnutrition. As a consequence, I have a difficult time accepting the premise that more than 50% have EPI. To me, this suggests that testing children when they are acutely-ill or malnourished is yielding unreliable results.

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