Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 49

A patient whose stool exhibits increased fats, undigested muscle fibers, and the inability to digest gelatin may have:

A. Bacterial dysentery

B. A duodenal ulcer

C. Cystic fibrosis

D. Lactose intolerance

Step 1 of 2

Digestive enzymes:

The digestive enzymes of the pancreas such as chymotrypsin, elastase I, and trypsin are essential to digest the fat, carbohydrate, and protein.

• Lack of these enzymes indicates pancreatic insufficiency and steatorrhea occurs and undigested food are seen in feces

• The enzymes chymotrypsin and trypsin can hydrolysis the gelatin

• When there is a lack of digestive enzymes, then it causes the following disorder,

o Chronic pancreatitis

o Cystic fibrosis

• If the enzymes are not present in required amount, it may either cause chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis:

• It is a disorder, which affects the exocrine glands.

Chronic pancreatitis:

• It is the inflammation of pancreas that changes the function and normal structure of pancreas.

Therefore, increase in fecal fat, undigested muscle fiber, and inability to hydrolysis the gelatin might be the cause of “cystic fibrosis”. Hence, the correct answer is option.