scholarly journals P-P10 The survival benefit of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in adult patients undergoing treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Thompson ◽  
Lewis Hall ◽  
Keith Roberts ◽  
Tahir Shah ◽  
Elizabeth Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Survival Benefit ◽  
Neuroendocrine Tumours ◽  
Weight Maintenance ◽  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme ◽  
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Enzyme Replacement ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy ◽  
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours

Abstract Background Patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs), treated with somatostatin analogues (SSAs) or pancreaticoduodenectomy, are at risk of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This is frequently undiagnosed but can be treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). PERT improves survival and nutritional status in other exocrine pancreatic insufficiency-associated conditions such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This single-centre retrospective cohort study aimed to establish whether PERT increases survival or weight maintenance in SSA or pancreaticoduodenectomy-treated patients with pNETs. Methods Departmental databases identified patients (n = 82) diagnosed with pNETs between 2009 and 2019 and managed with SSAs and/or pancreaticoduodenectomy. Their baseline characteristics, treatments and outcomes were established from clinical records. Cases (n = 47) received PERT 3 months after either pancreaticoduodenectomy or commencement of SSAs, controls (n = 35) did not. Overall survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test and multivariable Cox regression. Percentage monthly weight changes were compared using the Mann-Witney U test. The cohort was investigated as a whole and stratified by intervention (pancreaticoduodenectomy or SSAs) as more cases having undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy was a potential confounder. Results Median survival was not reached in either group. Cases experienced significantly greater 5-year overall survival (81% vs 53%, p = 0.010), however, PERT was not independently associated with survival (Hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.17-1.30, p = 0.143). Cases showed superior median weight maintenance (+0.04% vs -0.10% per month, p = 0.013), but had lower mean baseline weights (70.0kg vs 81.9kg, p = 0.003). Considering SSA-treated patients (n = 55) only, cases (n = 27) showed greater median weight maintenance (+0.04% vs -0.21% per month, p = 0.025) and a trend towards improved median overall survival (55.5, 95% CI 10.3-100.7 vs 47.7, 95% CI 19.1-76.4 months, p = 0.054). Conclusions PERT may improve the maintenance of weight and therefore nutrition in patients with pNETs, treated with SSAs or pancreaticoduodenectomy. PERT may also convey a survival benefit in this same population, however, due to the numerous factors which affect survival, this study appears underpowered to reliably explore this outcome. Further studies are required to accurately define the use and benefits of PERT in this population.

scholarly journals State of the Art in Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 523
Author(s):  
Carmelo Diéguez-Castillo ◽  
Cristina Jiménez-Luna ◽  
Jose Prados ◽  
José Luis Martín-Ruiz ◽  
Octavio Caba
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme ◽  
Bacterial Overgrowth ◽  
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Enzyme Replacement ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Invasive Test ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy ◽  
Risk Patients

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is defined as the maldigestion of foods due to inadequate pancreatic secretion, which can be caused by alterations in its stimulation, production, transport, or interaction with nutrients at duodenal level. The most frequent causes are chronic pancreatitis in adults and cystic fibrosis in children. The prevalence of EPI is high, varying according to its etiology, but it is considered to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Its importance lies in the quality of life impairment that results from the malabsorption and malnutrition and in the increased morbidity and mortality, being associated with osteoporosis and cardiovascular events. The diagnosis is based on a set of symptoms, indicators of malnutrition, and an indirect non-invasive test in at-risk patients. The treatment of choice combines non-restrictive dietary measures with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to correct the associated symptoms and improve the nutritional status of patients. Non-responders require the adjustment of pancreatic enzyme therapy, the association of proton pump inhibitors, and/or the evaluation of alternative diagnoses such as bacterial overgrowth. This review offers an in-depth overview of EPI in order to support the proper management of this entity based on updated and integrated knowledge of its etiopathogenesis, prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment.

Chronic giardiasis: a rare cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e242129
Author(s):  
Prateek Pophali ◽  
Maedeh Veyseh ◽  
Omar Fraij ◽  
Sahan Hapangama
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Enzyme Replacement Therapy ◽  
Replacement Therapy ◽  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme ◽  
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Common Condition ◽  
Enzyme Replacement ◽  
Malabsorption Syndromes ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a major cause of maldigestion/malabsorption syndromes. It is routinely diagnosed in clinical practice with the use of faecal elastase 1 levels, and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy continues to be the mainstay of treatment. Numerous primary pancreatic and extrapancreatic causes for EPI have been established. Chronic giardiasis is a common condition with symptoms similar to EPI; however, it has also been described as an infrequent cause of EPI. Much remains to be understood about the pathobiology of this association. Here, we present our experience of an intriguing case of severe pancreatic insufficiency in the setting of chronic giardiasis. The patient showed improvement in symptoms over weeks after completion of treatment for chronic giardiasis.

Romanian Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Gheorghe ◽  
Andrada Seicean ◽  
Adrian Saftoiu ◽  
Marcel Tantau ◽  
Eugen Dumitru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Replacement Therapy ◽  
Replacement Therapy ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme ◽  
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Exocrine Function ◽  
Enzyme Replacement ◽  
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy ◽  
Enteric Coated

In assessing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), its diverse etiologies and the heterogeneous population affected should be considered. Diagnosing this condition remains a challenge in clinical practice especially for mild-to-moderate EPI, with the support of the time-consuming breath test or the coefficient of fat absorption. The fecal elastase-1 test, less precise for the diagnosis, cannot be useful for assessing treatment efficacy. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the mainstay of treatment, whereby enteric-coated mini-microspheres are taken with every meal, in progressive doses based on an individual's weight and clinical symptoms. The main indication for PERT is chronic pancreatitis, in patients who have clinically relevant steatorrhea, abnormal pancreatic function test or abnormal function tests associated with symptoms of malabsorption such as weight loss or meteorism. While enzyme replacement therapy is not recommended in the initial stages of acute pancreatitis, pancreatic exocrine function should be monitored for at least 6-18 months. In the case of unresectable pancreatic cancer, replacement enzyme therapy helps to maintain weight and improve overall quality of life. It is also indicated in patients with celiac disease, who have chronic diarrhea (in spite of gluten-free diet), and in patients with cystic fibrosis with proven EPI.

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