CLINICAL-VALUE OF SERUM PANCREATIC-ENZYMES IN ACUTE ALCOHOL-INTOXICATION AND ACUTE ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS

Background and aims, The aim of this study was to evaluate the inciden ce in the serum of elevated levels of amylase, pancreatic isoamylase, and lipase in acute alcohol intoxication among occasional drinkers and chronic alcoholics, and to assess the diagnostic ability of the three enzymes for acute alcoholic pancreatitis. Patients and methods, One-h undred and seventeen consecutive subjects with acute alcohol intoxicat ion but no abdominal pain (47 occasional drinkers, 70 chronic alcoholi cs), and 17 with acute alcoholic pancreatitis were studied. For all su bjects serum amylase, pancreatic isoamylase, and lipase were determine d using commercially available kits. Results. Among occasional drinker s, serum amylase levels were abnormally high in 6 subjects (13%), wher eas serum pancreatic isoamylase and lipase were abnormally high in one , (2%). In chronic alcoholics without abdominal pain serum amylase and lipase were abnormally high in 10 subjects (14%) bur serum pancreatic isoamylase in only 7 (10%). In patients with acute alcoholic pancreat itis serum amylase and pancreatic isoamylase were abnormally high in 1 6 of the 17 patients (94%), whereas serum lipase was abnormally high i n all. Conclusions, Chronic alcohol abuse, but not occasional al cohol intoxication, may cause pancreatic damage. Amylase, pancreatic isoamy lase and lipase determinations in the serum are all equally useful in the diagnosis of acute alcoholic pancreatitis.