Acute Pancreatitis | Choose the Right Test

Acute pancreatitis is a reversible inflammatory process of the pancreas caused by auto digestion that generally presents with epigastric abdominal pain that may radiate to the back and is worsened by the ingestion of food. Acute pancreatitis is often mild, but severe disease can have a mortality rate of up to 30%. The most common causes are gallbladder disease, alcohol use, and hypertriglyceridemia. In addition to abdominal pain, patients may present with nausea and vomiting, which are nonspecific in most cases, so imaging and laboratory testing are important for definitive diagnosis. Lipase is the preferred laboratory test for diagnosing acute pancreatitis, as it is the most sensitive and specific marker for pancreatic cell damage. Additional laboratory testing, such as complete blood count (CBC) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests, are useful to obtain prognostic information. Quick Answers for Clinicians What should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis?...