Risk Factors Affecting Serum Pancreatic Enzyme Elevation in Celiac Disease Patients: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND: The impact of celiac disease (CD) on pancreatic function is poorly understood. Studies investigating the relationship between CD and the pancreas are contradictory. AIM: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between pancreatic enzyme elevation and risk factors in celiac disease patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Van Education and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey, from 2015 to 2019, and comprised record of celiac disease patients as well as newly-diagnosed cases, who were all followed up at the relevant clinic. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics, initial presentation complaints, disease duration, dietary compliance, presence, and severity of gastrointestinal system symptoms were documented, and so were serum pancreatic enzymes and laboratory levels. Elevated serum pancreatic enzymes accompanying celiac disease were recorded, and their association with risk factors was analyzed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: Of the 250 patients, 186 (74.4%) were female. The overall mean age was 33.4 ± 10.7 years, and mean disease duration was 28.4 ± 6.5 years. Of the total, 58 (23.2%) patients had amylase and/or lipase enzyme elevation. Disease duration, absence of dietary compatibility, and disease stage were found to be independent risk factors (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between pancreatic enzyme elevation and abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea-vomiting, diarrhea complaints, and severity of abdominal pain, diarrhea and nausea-vomiting (P < 0.05). There is no significant correlation between laboratory values (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Strict dietary compliance together with pancreatic enzyme replacement may be beneficial for celiac disease patients.