The bentiromide test for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

The bentiromide test, a test of pancreatic exocrine function, has recently been approved for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration. The test has been studied in adult patients with chronic pancreatic disease and in children with cystic fibrosis. The 500-mg dose and 6-hour urine collection period appear optimal for separating patients with chronic pancreatic disease from control subjects. Side effects with the 500-mg dose are virtually nonexistent. This simply performed outpatient test of chymotrypsin function appears to be an excellent means of confirming the diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.