Early prediction of aetiology and severity of acute pancreatitis by serum amylase and lipase assays
Manes, G.; Rabitti, P.G.; Laccetti, M.; Pacelli, L.; Carraturo, I.; Uomo, G.
Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 41(3): 211-215
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-421X PMID: 8519858 Document Number: 452348
To evaluate whether simple pancreatic enzyme assays are useful in the early assessment of aetiology and prognosis of acute pancreatitis. A retrospective clinical study. Department of Internal Medicine with a Pancreatic Disease Centre. The study included 246 patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to our Unit within the first 24 hours from the onset of disease. Amylase and lipase serum levels and lipase/amylase ratio were evaluated. Serum amylase was higher in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis than oedematous and biliary pancreatitis than alcoholic (p < 0.009 and p < 0.05 respectively), but a high degree of overlap between values was found. No differences were noted in lipase serum levels. Lipase/amylase ratio was not different between patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic pancreatitis. Evaluation of serum amylase and lipase is not useful for assessing aetiology and severity of acute pancreatitis, although amylase may be higher in severe and biliary forms.