Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Not Just Pancreatitis— 20+ Additional Factors to Consider
Clinicians are eager to treat with PERT, but it’s always important to ask, “Why does this patient have EPI, or why are their FE-1 levels suboptimal (<500 μg/g)?” Some underlying causes can be treated, which means pancreatic function can return to normal, and patients are not reliant on PERT with every meal long-term. For example, celiac patients with EPI who start a gluten-free diet restore the mucosal lining and often normalize pancreatic function and FE-1 levels within months.