pancreatic polypeptide in plasma

Indications: -> useful for screening members of families with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type-1 Specimen: 1) plasma (fasting) EDTA 2) freeze 3) pancreatic tissue also acceptable Reference values: -> adults a) 20-28 years: 26-158 pg/mL b) 29-39 years: 55-284 pg/mL c) 40-49 years: 64-243 pg/mL d) > 50 years: 51-326 pg/mL Increases: 1) clinical disorders - functioning pancreatic endocrine tumors - gastrinoma - insulinoma - VIPoma - glucagonoma - some extra-pancreatic carcinoid tumors - metastases of some islet cell tumors - higher levels occur with liver metastases - some adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, stomach, colon or rectum - duodenal ulcer - diabetes mellitus - may be characteristic of lean type-2 diabetes - advanced age - renal failure - multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type-1 - medullary thyroid carcinoma - Zollinger-Ellison syndrome 2) pharmaceutical agents - in vivo effects - insulin-induced hypoglycemia Decreases: - clinical disorders - chronic pancreatitis with exocrine insufficiency

References

Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed., W.B. Saunders, 1995