Indications directory

Basic evaluations:

Full blood count, ESR or CRP, sodium, potassium, calcium, total protein, glucose, creatinine, amylase, lipase, pancreatic elastase (more sensitive than amylase or lipase), GOT, GPT, gamma-GT, triglycerides, if necessary vitamin B 12, methyl-malonic acid, folic acid, vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone, ferritin, magnesium, zinc, INR (this value may be increased due to vitamin K absorption malfunction), vitamin K, vitamin A

Further tests for etiological evaluation:

Vitamins:

Beta-carotene (on suspicion of steatorrhea)

Immunology:

Endomysium- and gliadin-antibodies (on suspicion of sprue, see there), ANA, AMA, parietal cell- and intrinsic factor antibodies (on suspicion of autoimmune gastritis), allergen-specific IgG-antibodies against cow’s milk, alpha-beta-lactalbumin, casein, bovine serum albumin

Stool:

Stool examination, blood (hemoccult or immunological), parasites or worm eggs, cultures for general pathogens, total lipids, pancreatic elastase, Kerry-test in children (reduced substances), bacterial dysbacteria in case of diverticulosis and others

Infection serology:

HIV

Toxicology:

CDT (on suspicion of alcoholism)

Endocrinology:

Gastrin, gastrin-stimulation-test (please see function tests, on suspicion of Zollinger-Ellison-syndrome)

Function tests:

Xylose-test (on suspicion of malabsorption in the proximal small intestine), lactose tolerance test (on suspicion of lactase-deficiency), pancreolauryl-test (on suspicion of pancreas insufficiency)