Pancreatic Insufficiency Symptoms

Synonyms

Pancreatic insufficiency, dysfunction of the pancreas, inadequate production capacity of the pancreas, pancreatic insufficiency

Synonyms in a broader sense

Weight loss, nausea, Vomit, Loss of appetite, dyspeptic symptoms, diarrhea, Fat stool, Flatulence, Diabetes

general definition

As Dysfunction (insufficiency) is generally used to describe the inability of an organ to perform its tasks sufficiently. The fact that the functionality of this organ is insufficient is expressed, depending on which organ is affected, in different symptoms (Symptoms).

The pancreas is functionally divided into two parts. The one part, anatomically more in the Pancreatic tail (Cauda pancreatis) located, produced Hormoneswhich he then pours out "inwards" (endocrine) - i.e. into the blood.
The other part is anatomically more in the Pancreatic head (Caput pancreatis) and produces digestive juices containing enzymes, which it releases into the intestines. Strictly speaking, everything is within the Intestinal tube lies (which is open at the top and bottom), outside the body; this is why the second part of the pancreas is called “exocrine”. Depending on which part of the pancreas is no longer doing its job, the specialist speaks of exocrine or endocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Symptoms of Endocrine Insufficiency

Of the endocrine part of the pancreas produces a variety of Hormones and small, often regulatory proteins (Peptides).

The most important hormone produced there, the absence of which is responsible for the symptoms in the event of insufficiency, that is insulin. Insulin got its name from the fact that it is in the so-called "Langerhans Islands"of the pancreas - and only there - is produced.

In healthy people, insulin is mainly released after eating and ensures that the sugar absorbed from the blood is quickly absorbed by fat cells, liver cells and muscle cells, to high levels Blood sugar level to prevent.
The hormone glucagon, which, as an antagonist of insulin, leads to an increase in the blood sugar level when the blood sugar level is too low, is also produced there.
If the production of these hormones is restricted, there is insufficient regulation of the blood sugar level. This leads above all after eating too too high, and too low concentrations after longer breaks of sugar in the blood.

A lack of insulin education is also common Insulin deficiency diabetes (Type 1 diabetes mellitus) called. In the long run, too high a blood sugar level damages blood vessels and kidneys and can lead to high blood pressure, Urinary tract infections, Water retention (Edema), Tingling and Sensory disturbances (Polyneuropathies), arterial disease, Heart attack (Myocardial infarction) and stroke (Apoplexy) to lead.
There is also a pathological increase in drinking (Polydypsia) and urination (Polyuria) on. In addition, blood sugar levels that are too high (or too low) can lead to coma.

Symptoms of Exocrine Insufficiency

In the exocrine pancreatic insufficiency digestion-associated symptoms are in the foreground. In a healthy state, the pancreas produces HCO3- (Bicarbonate) to buffer the remaining gastric acid that has been transported on, and on the other hand various biocatalysts (enzymes) that break down the ingested food into its components (digest) and thus enable the intestine to absorb these components.

A deficient function of the exocrine pancreas means that stomach acid is insufficiently buffered and not all food is digested. As a result, the patient then suffers from digestive-related (dyspeptic) Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or upper abdominal pain. This happens mainly due to irritation of the mucous membranes from remaining, insufficiently buffered gastric acid in the stomach (Guest) downstream sections of the intestine (especially the duodenum, the Duodenum).

These complaints mainly occur after eating high-fat food, which the affected person then usually develops a pronounced aversion to. In the long term, the inadequate (insufficientDigestion (also called maldigestion) means that the body cannot absorb enough nutrients. This then leads to his lack of them; Weight loss and deficiency symptoms (mainly due to a reduced intake of the fat-soluble vitamins E, D, K and A) are the possible consequences.

On the other hand, the undigested food remains in the intestine and thus reaches regions of the large and rectum (colon and rectum) in which they normally do not appear. This then leads to diarrhea through bacterial overgrowth (Diarrhea), Flatulence (Meteorism), but also to foul-smelling fatty stools (Steatorrhea). As a rule, symptoms of poor digestion (Maldigestion) However, to be expected only when the exocrine pancreas excretory capacity increases below 10% of the normal value has fallen off.

Read about this: Functions of the pancreas

causes

A Pancreatic insufficiency can have many causes. So can next to a permanent Inflammation of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis), also a Pancreatic cancer (Pancreatic cancer) as well as genetic causes (especially the hereditary disease Cystic fibrosis) or autoimmune diseases.

Depending on the cause of the pancreatic insufficiency, there may be other symptoms besides those caused by it, such as fever, Night sweats, Upper abdomen- and Back pain, or - by a Relocation of the bile duct – Jaundice (Jaundice).

therapy

In addition to treating the underlying disease (e.g. through abstinence from alcohol in a chronic Inflammation of the pancreas) and dietary measures (Lots of small high-carbon, low-fat meals) some products can use the pancreas (pancreatic synthesis products) such as the digestive enzyme lipase or the hormone insulin replacing from the outside (substituting).

In the case of insulin, it must be injected into the subcutaneous fatty tissue (subcutaneous) can be injected. The enzyme lipase can be taken in tablet form. For both applications, however, the dose must always be adapted to the amount and composition of the food. If necessary, the Vitamins E, D, K and Athat are fat-soluble and therefore with Pancreatic insufficiency be absorbed reduced, are additionally supplied. Since their absorption in the intestine is reduced, this should preferably be "past the intestine“ (parenteral) respectively.