Serum pancreolauryl: non invasive biochemical test for evaluation of the exocrine pancreatic function

The pancreas is a mixed gland; the exocrine portion produces and secretes enzymes involved in the digestion of nutrients in the diet. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory process that leads to progressive loss of the functions of the gland. The diagnosis is based on a clinical study, imaging and laboratory. Serum pancreolauryl test (PLT) indirectly measures the ctivity of a specific pancreatic cholesterol esterase. The objectives of the present work are to optimize the PLTs, to establish sex differences in PLT values, and to study the PL values ?? in CP and control patients. The cutoff value used for the PLT was 4.5 mg/L. In patients with CP the cutoff value was lower than the control (p<0.001), and established differences between moderate and severe CP. The PLT was lower in men than in women (p<0.05). PLT is an economic, noninvasive and feasible test to perform in the biochemical laboratory.