[Determination of chymotrypsin in the stool by succinyl-L-phenylalanin-P-nitraniliden (Suphepa) in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases (author's transl)].

A specific substrate (Suphepa), which is well known in duodenal chymotrypsin determination (pancreozymin-secretin-test), is also suitable for the enzyme determination in stools from patients suspected of having a pancreas insufficiency of exocrine nature. The median value of 353 fecal chymotrypsin determination of 180 normal persons was 137 mug/g of native stool. There is a good correlation in comparing the fecal with the duodenal chymotrypsin: Out of 30 comparable patients, 10 patients had pathological values for the duodenal and fecal chymotrypsin determinations, whereas 18 patients had normal values. According to the results of the pancreozymin-secretin-test, false normal stool results were recorded for two patients. No false positive stool values were recorded for the comparative collective. The great accuracy, the modest instrumental expense and the negligible inconvenience for the patient are good in line with the requirements for a screening test.