Serum lipase: A better test to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis

objective: To determine whether serum lipase is a better test than serum amylase to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis. patients: Two hundred two asymptomatic chronic alcoholics (Group A) and 29 patients with image-proven pancreatitis (Group P). measurements: Serum lipase was measured using the Kodak Ektachem clinical chemistry slide. Serum amylase was estimated using the Kodak Ektachem clinical chemistry slide or the Beckman Astra amylase chemistry module. results: The level of serum amylase in Group A ranged from 17 to 347 U/L (mean 71, SD ± 36 U/L) and in Group P from 180 to 2,985 U/L (mean 722, SD ± 663 U/L). Thirteen of 29 patients (45%) with image-proven pancreatitis had levels that overlapped those found in asymptomatic alcoholics. The serum lipase levels in Group A ranged from 34 to 600 U/L (mean 186, SD ± 111 U/L), while in Group P, the corresponding figures were 1,011 to 25,706 U/L (mean 5,822, SD ± 5,664 U/L). None of the 29 patients with image-proven pancreatitis had levels that overlapped those found in asymptomatic alcoholics. conclusions: Serum lipase is a better test than serum amylase to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis.