Role of pancreatic impairment in growth recovery during gluten-free diet in childhood celiac disease

Tests of pancreatic exocrine function – Clinical significance in pancreatic and non-pancreatic disorders

“…Indirect pancreatic function tests such as the 13 C-mixed triglyceride breath test may help to confirm and to quantify nutrient maldigestion and malabsorption. In children with coeliac disease determination of fecal chymotrypsin seems to be a predictor for weight gain under gluten free diet (patients with low chymotrypsin display lower weight gain) [79] and may therefore help to guide therapy.…”

Clinical Features of Celiac Disease Today

“…exocrine pancreatic insufficiency has been identified in one series as a cause of dietary failure [27]. Due to intesExocrine pancreatic impairment can complicate celiac disease, and impair growth recovery during gluten-free tinal or psychological problems, the quality of life may be somewhat lower in treated celiac patients than in the diet treatment [35]. Hyposplenism is, according to some reports, a frequent phenomenon affecting even more than population in general [32].…”

Pancreatic Insufficiency in Adult Celiac Disease: Do Patients Require Long-Term Enzyme Supplementation?

“…In addition, previously there have been no data on the use of continued pancreatic enzyme supplementation in celiac disease. Carroccio et al have previously described serial measurements of pancreatic enzymes in children with celiac disease, but unlike our adult group who had persistent symptoms despite glutenfree diet (GFD), the children had newly diagnosed celiac disease and 15/17 with low pancreatic enzymes proceeded to normalize after 2 months on a GFD [29]. The pathophysiological mechanism of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in celiac disease is likely to be multifactorial.…”