Diagnostic Performance of Measurement of Fecal Elastase-1 in Detection of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

Tests to quantify fecal levels of chymotrypsin like elastase family member 3 (CELA3 or elastase-1) in feces are widely used to identify patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). However, the diagnostic accuracy of this test, an ELISA, is not clear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the accuracy of measurement of fecal elastase-1 in detection of EPI.

METHODS:

We searched PubMed, Embase, and reference lists for articles through November 2016 describing studies that compared fecal level of elastase-1 with results from a reference standard, direct method (secretin stimulation test), or indirect method (measurement of fecal fat) for detection of EPI. Sensitivity and specificity values were pooled statistically using bivariate diagnostic meta-analysis.

RESULTS:

We included total of 428 cases of EPI and 673 individuals without EPI (controls), from 14 studies, in the meta-analysis. The assay for elastase-1, compared to secretin stimulation test, identified patients with pancreatic insufficiency with a pooled sensitivity value of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.58-0.89) and specificity value of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.78-0.93). In an analysis of 345 cases of EPI and 312 controls, from 6 studies, the fecal elastase-1 assay identified patients with EPI with a pooled sensitivity value of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.79-0.99) and specificity value of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.59-0.97), compared to quantitative fecal fat estimation. In patients with low pre-test probability of EPI (5%), the fecal elastase-1 assay would have a false-negative rate of 1.1% and a false-positive rate of 11%, indicating a high yield in ruling out EPI but not in detection of EPI. In contrast, in patients with high pre-test probability of EPI (40%), approximately 10% of patients with EPI would be missed (false negatives).

CONCLUSIONS:

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that compared fecal level of elastase-1 for detection of EPI, we found that normal level of elastase-1 (above 200 mcg/g) can rule out EPI in patients with a low probability of this disorder (such as those with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea). However, in these patients, an abnormal level of elastase-1 (below 200 mcg/g) has a high false-positive rate.

• Authors: Rohini R Vanga, Aylin Tansel, Saad Sidiq, Hashem B El-Serag, Mohamed O Othman
• Journal: Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 16 Issue 8 Pg. 1220-1228.e4 (08 2018) ISSN: 1542-7714 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29374614 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Pancreatic Elastase

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Diagnostic Tests, Routine (methods)
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (diagnosis)
• Feces (chemistry)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Elastase (analysis)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Young Adult