Abstract
Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis remains a challenge even in 21st century.
Aims & Objectives: We conducted this study to determine the levels of serum and urinary amylase in patients with acute pancreatitis and compare their sensitivity.
Material and Methods: The present study was conducted from 30th June 2013 to 31st May 2014, in the departments of General Surgery and Biochemistry of our college. A total of 51 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into mild, moderate and severe pancreatitis according to their Contrast enhanced CT findings. Values of serum and urinary amylase were then compared according to severity of disease and day of presentation.
Results: The sensitivity of serum amylase was 35%, 50% and 75% in mild, moderate and severe acute pancreatitis respectively, while the sensitivity of urinary amylase was 52.94%, 77.27% and 75% in mild, moderate and severe acute pancreatitis respectively. For patients presenting on the first 3 days, the sensitivity of serum amylase was 54.28% and that of urinary amylase was 62.85%. For patients who had presented on 4th to 8th day after the onset of pain, the sensitivity of serum and urinary amylase were 45% and 81.81% respectively. For patients presenting after 9 days of onset of pain, the sensitivity of urinary amylase was high at 80% and that of serum amylase was 40%.
Conclusion: Urinary amylase is a convenient and a more sensitive test for diagnosis of acute pancreatitis than serum amylase.
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.10
