EPI
Symptoms

Consider EPI in your differential diagnosis

Patients with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) may present with signs and symptoms similar to other GI conditions.1

One, some, or all of these symptoms could mean EPI1

Toilet icon

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain icon

Abdominal pain

Bloating icon

Bloating

Flatulence icon

Flatulence

Weight loss icon

Unexplained
weight loss

Steatorrhea icon

Steatorrhea*

(foul-smelling, greasy, oily stools)

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Bloating

Flatulence

Unexplained weight loss

Steatorrhea*

(foul-smelling, greasy, oily stools)

Diarrhea

Bloating

Unexplained weight loss

Abdominal pain

Flatulence

Steatorrhea*

(foul-smelling, greasy, oily stools)

*Steatorrhea: >7 g of fecal fat per day while consuming 100 g of dietary fat per day.

Clinically relevant malabsorption may occur earlier than overt symptoms of EPI2-5

  • Steatorrhea—the most common clinical manifestation of EPI—may not appear until the disease is advanced (ie, pancreatic enzyme output drops below 10%) and may not be evident when patients limit fat intake
  • There may be clinically relevant maldigestion and malabsorption in patients without steatorrhea

Consider all signs and symptoms of EPI—beyond just steatorrhea—in your differential diagnosis.

Knowing which underlying conditions and procedures to look for can help you uncover EPI.

Review underlying conditions and procedures
Learn how to diagnose EPI

References: 1. Alkaade S, Vareedayah AA. A primer on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, fat malabsorption, and fatty acid abnormalities. Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(12)(suppl):S203-S209. 2. Domínguez-Muñoz JE. Pancreatic enzyme therapy for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007;9(2):116-122. 3. Dumasy V, Delhaye M, Cotton F, Deviere J. Fat malabsorption screening in chronic pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004;99(7):1350-1354. 4. Hart PA, Conwell DL. Diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2015;13(3):347-353. 5. Smith RC, Smith SF, Wilson J, et al; Working Party of the Australasian Pancreatic Club. Summary and recommendations from the Australasian guidelines for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Pancreatology. 2016;16(2):164-180.