The American journal of gastroenterology
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Feb 1999
ReviewAmylase normal, lipase elevated: is it pancreatitis? A case series and review of the literature.
This study was undertaken to identify clinical scenarios in which the lipase is significantly elevated (three times above the upper limit of normal) but the amylase is normal, and to examine whether or not pancreatitis is the likely cause for this seemingly unusual constellation of laboratory results. ⋯ 1. An elevated lipase should not be equated with evidence for pancreatitis if the amylase is normal. 2. A simultaneous determination of both amylase and lipase is recommended for the evaluation of patients with abdominal pain.