A common laboratory test for chronic pancreatitis is a fecal test for

A common laboratory test for chronic pancreatitis is a fecal test for

• A. Amylase
• B. Lipase
• C. Trypsin
• D. Bilirubin

Answer: (C)

Chronic pancreatitis damages the pancreas’ ability to produce digestive enzymes, so stool can reflect this loss of exocrine function. A fecal test for trypsin measures the activity of trypsin, a digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas is not functioning well, trypsin levels in the stool drop, making this test a useful indicator of pancreatic insufficiency associated with chronic pancreatitis. In contrast, measuring amylase or lipase in blood detects acute pancreatic inflammation, not chronic exocrine function, and bilirubin in stool points to biliary or liver issues rather than pancreatic enzyme production.

Chronic pancreatitis damages the pancreas’ ability to produce digestive enzymes, so stool can reflect this loss of exocrine function. A fecal test for trypsin measures the activity of trypsin, a digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas is not functioning well, trypsin levels in the stool drop, making this test a useful indicator of pancreatic insufficiency associated with chronic pancreatitis.

In contrast, measuring amylase or lipase in blood detects acute pancreatic inflammation, not chronic exocrine function, and bilirubin in stool points to biliary or liver issues rather than pancreatic enzyme production.