A case of acute pancreatitis with normal serum amylase and lipase value

Abstract

There are several causes of acute pancreatitis (AP). In clinical practice, AP is diagnosed by presence of acute pain abdomen, elevated serum amylase and lipase value (>3 times of upper limit of normal) and ultrasonographic (USG) findings of acute pancreatitis but in only 25-50% of patients with acute pancreatitis, pancreas is visualised. In this case, 44 years gentleman was presented with acute pain abdomen, normal serum amylase and lipase value and no pancreatic abnormality in abdominal USG. After diagnosis of elevated serum triglyceride, computed tomography (CT scan) of abdomen was done to exclude hypertriglyceridemia induced AP. CT scan abdomen showed features of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, in every patient with acute pain abdomen if serum amylase and lipase value and USG abdomen are normal, serum triglyceride should be advised to rule out hypertriglyceridemia induced AP. In this case report we are going to present a case of acute pancreatitis with normal serum amylase and lipase value.