Value of a spectroscopic 'fecalogram' in determining the etiology of steatorrhea

Abstract

We have developed a 'fecalogram' to present the analytical results for four characteristics of fecal specimens: dry weight, total nitrogen, total fat, and hydrolyzed fat, measured by near-infrared sprectroscopy. This technique gives results as precise as those of more traditional analyses for these four components. The respective correlation coefficients are 0.973, 0.960, 0.974, and 0.978. The CVs for this technique range from 1.19% to 2.88%. Among the digestive disorders revealed from 1.19% to 2.88%. Among the digestive disorders revealed by this fecalogram is steatorrhea, which can be differentiated as being of pancreatic or intestinal etiology. The percentage of total fat that is hydrolyzed is significantly (P<0.0001) greater in patients with malabsorption (>70%) than in those with maldigestion (<70%).