ABSTRACT
Pancreatic Function Tests .................................................... 42 3.3.4 Fecal Alpha 1 Antitrypsin for Protein Losing Enteropathy ...............44
3.3.4.1 Serum Carotene ...................................................................44 3.3.4.2 Bile Acid Malabsorption Tests ............................................. 45
3.4 Changing Face of Malabsorption ................................................................... 45 3.4.1 Bile Acid Malabsorption .....................................................................46 3.4.2 Bacterial Overgrowth .........................................................................48 3.4.3 Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides
and Polyols ..........................................................................................48 3.4.4 Malabsorption after Bariatric Surgery ............................................... 49
The diagnosis and therapy of malabsorption should ideally be a logical integration of recognizing clinical symptoms and signs, understanding physiology and pathophysiology, utilizing appropriate laboratory testing, and choosing a specic treatment. However, the ideal is not frequently reached because of vagaries in history and physical exam along with difculties in obtaining or interpreting tests for malabsorption. This chapter will discuss: (1) the clinical presentation of malabsorption, (2) classication of malabsorption, and (3) a logical approach for evaluation of suspected malabsorption.
