Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: What It Is and Who’s at Risk
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: What It Is and Who’s at Risk
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition that happens when there’s a problem with your pancreas, mainly with how well it helps you digest food.
Your pancreas makes enzymes that break down the fats, proteins, and starches you eat so your body can use them. If the organ can’t do its job, you can have digestive and other problems, such as:
Diverticulosis
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Diverticulosis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Read the Diverticulosis article > >
Without treatment, EPI can make you malnourished -- you won't get enough important vitamins and nutrients from your diet -- and it can lead to other serious conditions, such as thinning bones (osteoporosis) or the blood condition anemia.
EPI starts in people who have a damaged pancreas or another condition that keeps it from working as it should. You might be at risk if you have:
If you’re on a low-fat diet for a pancreas-related condition, you might have EPI but no symptoms.
This is the most common cause of EPI in adults. It happens when the pancreas has been inflamed for a long time, which can damage the organ and its enzymes. Heavy alcohol use and smoking cause CP, but some types of it also run in families.
In this genetic disorder, the body makes a thick, sticky mucus that can block the pancreas and keep it from giving off enzymes. If you have cystic fibrosis, your doctor might want to test you for EPI. It’s very important to get pancreas problems diagnosed in children, because they need the right amount of nutrients and vitamins to grow.
If you think you might have EPI, talk to your doctor. She might send you to a doctor who treats stomach diseases, called a gastroenterologist. This specialist will test you and recommend treatments that can help.
Your pancreas makes enzymes that break down the fats, proteins, and starches you eat so your body can use them. If the organ can’t do its job, you can have digestive and other problems, such as:
Recommended Related to Digestive Disorders
Diverticulosis
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Diverticulosis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Read the Diverticulosis article > >
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Loose, pale, oily, foul-smelling stools
- Stomach pain
- Gas and bloating
- Bone pain
- Muscle cramps
Without treatment, EPI can make you malnourished -- you won't get enough important vitamins and nutrients from your diet -- and it can lead to other serious conditions, such as thinning bones (osteoporosis) or the blood condition anemia.
Who’s at Risk?
EPI starts in people who have a damaged pancreas or another condition that keeps it from working as it should. You might be at risk if you have:
- Surgery on your stomach, pancreas, or gallbladder
- A genetic disorder that affects your pancreas, like cystic fibrosis, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Pancreatic cancer
- An inflammatory bowel syndrome, such as Crohn’s disease
- Stomach ulcers
- Celiac disease
- Diabetes
If you’re on a low-fat diet for a pancreas-related condition, you might have EPI but no symptoms.
Chronic Pancreatitis (CP)
This is the most common cause of EPI in adults. It happens when the pancreas has been inflamed for a long time, which can damage the organ and its enzymes. Heavy alcohol use and smoking cause CP, but some types of it also run in families.
Cystic Fibrosis
In this genetic disorder, the body makes a thick, sticky mucus that can block the pancreas and keep it from giving off enzymes. If you have cystic fibrosis, your doctor might want to test you for EPI. It’s very important to get pancreas problems diagnosed in children, because they need the right amount of nutrients and vitamins to grow.
Next Steps
If you think you might have EPI, talk to your doctor. She might send you to a doctor who treats stomach diseases, called a gastroenterologist. This specialist will test you and recommend treatments that can help.