Garcia, M.A.G.; Imam, S.; Braun, U.K.; Jackson, L.K. Rational Prescribing of Pancreatic Enzymes for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Pharmacy2024, 12, 47.
Garcia, M.A.G.; Imam, S.; Braun, U.K.; Jackson, L.K. Rational Prescribing of Pancreatic Enzymes for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Pharmacy 2024, 12, 47.
Garcia, M.A.G.; Imam, S.; Braun, U.K.; Jackson, L.K. Rational Prescribing of Pancreatic Enzymes for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Pharmacy2024, 12, 47.
Garcia, M.A.G.; Imam, S.; Braun, U.K.; Jackson, L.K. Rational Prescribing of Pancreatic Enzymes for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Pharmacy 2024, 12, 47.
Abstract
Most patients with pancreatic cancer at some point present with symptoms related to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). These include diarrhea, abdominal bloating, indigestion, steatorrhea, weight loss, and anorexia. Even though up to 80% of pancreatic cancer patients eventually present with symptoms related to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, only 21% are prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. This treatment is profoundly underutilized in the palliative care of these patients. The objective of this review is to discuss the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, side effects, available evidence of effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme use for patients with pancreatic cancer, and challenges along with proposed solutions regarding its use. Pancrelipase is an expensive drug, and it is inactive if not taken correctly. The impact of symptoms of EPI can lead to poorer overall well-being. Pharmacists play a crucial role in properly educating patients on the correct use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is a key strategy in managing symptoms of EPI and can improve quality of life, which is a central focus in palliative care.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
