轻症急性胰腺炎患者血清淀粉酶不降的原因分析及处理对策

目的 探讨轻症急性胰腺炎患者血清淀粉酶不降的原因及防治对策.方法 对我院307例轻症急性胰腺炎患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 轻症急性胰腺炎患者血清淀粉酶不降的原因主要为急性胰腺炎病因未去除、进食不当、急性胰腺炎病情进展、特殊类型急性胰腺炎及合并其他疾病等.结论 观察并分析轻症急性胰腺炎患者血清淀粉酶不降的原因,采取正确的处理对策,对轻症急性胰腺炎患者的康复至关重要.     

135例慢性胰腺炎临床病例分析

探讨慢性胰腺炎的不同病因和临床表现特点。回顾性分析本院135例慢性胰腺炎的住院患者的主要病因包括胆道系统疾病(31．85％)和酒精中毒(35．56％),其他病因包括特发性、自身免疫性疾病、外伤或遗传等。酒精性CP临床症状发生的比例较胆源性高,特别是腹痛、腹泻、糖尿病的发生率明显高于胆源性CP。酒精性与非酒精性CP组、对照组相比,TG、HDL-C、G／HDL-C差别显著。胆道系统疾病和酒精中毒为CP主要病因,近年来酒精性因素呈上升趋势。临床表现上,酒精性较胆源性CP的发生率高。TG／HDL-C比值可能有助于鉴别酒精性和非酒精性胰腺炎。     

急性胆源性胰腺炎的早期EST治疗

目的探讨早期EST治疗急性胆源性胰腺炎的疗效。方法回顾性分析我院自2000年12月至2003年11月间46例临床确诊为急性胆源性胰腺炎作早期(72h内)EST治疗的结果。结果早期EST治疗急性胆源性胰腺炎能有效降低血清淀粉酶及缓解疼痛。只要操作得当并无内镜治疗相关的并发症和死亡病例。结论急性胆源性胰腺炎内镜治疗是安全而有效的。     

高脂血症性急性胰腺炎患者血脂及临床分析

目的　探讨高脂血症性急性胰腺炎患者的血脂和临床特点。方法　2001年1月～ 2003年12月共收治各种原因的急性胰腺炎146例。其中高脂血症性急性胰腺炎10例,随机以胆 源性、酒精性胰腺炎各15例为对照;记录发病8小时尿淀粉酶、血淀粉酶、血脂和血糖等指标,进 行发病48小时的临床APACHEⅡ和CT严重指数(CTSI)评分。结果　高脂血症性胰腺炎占胰腺 炎的6.85%。高脂血症性胰腺炎血脂异常7例表现为高甘油三酯(TG)血症,3例表现为以高TG 为主的混合型高血脂症,血清TG明显高于酒精性和胆源性胰腺炎(P<0.01)。高脂血症性急性胰 腺炎有2例淀粉酶(尿、血)在正常范围,其淀粉酶均值显著低于胆源性胰腺炎和酒精性胰腺炎(P <0.01)、血糖水平与酒精性胰腺炎比较差异无显著性(P>0.05),与胆源性胰腺炎比较差异有显 著性(P<0.05)。高脂血症性急性胰腺炎血清TG水平与CTSI、临床APACHEⅡ评分、血淀粉酶无 相关性(r=0.342、0.381、0.051)。与胆源性胰腺炎、酒精性胰腺炎比较,高脂血症性胰腺炎发病48 小时的CTSI、临床APACHEⅡ评分及平均住院天数无差异。结论　高脂血症性急性胰腺炎临床经 过和预后无异于其他原因的胰腺炎,病情的轻重与血脂高低无明显相关性。     

急性胰腺炎早期诊断中联合检验血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶与C反应蛋白的临床价值

目的探讨血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶与C反应蛋白联合检测在急性胰腺炎早期诊断中的价值。方法以86例急性胰腺炎患者作为观察组,包括72例轻型胰腺炎患者,14例重型胰腺炎患者;同时选择39例非急性胰腺炎急腹症患者作为对照A组,另选同期健康体检正常者58例作为对照B组。均检测其血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶与C反应蛋白水平,并对其结果进行分析比较。结果对照B组血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶与C反应蛋白水平均低于急性胰腺炎组,差异显著(P0.05)。轻型组C反应蛋白水平低于重型组,差异显著(P0.05),两组血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。对照A组血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶水平均低于急性胰腺炎组,差异显著(P0.05),两组C反应蛋白水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶与C反应蛋白联合检测在急性胰腺炎的诊断中具有较高应用价值,可作为急性胰腺炎早期诊断、判断疾病严重程度的一个独立衡量标准,同时也可鉴别急性胰腺炎与非急性胰腺炎急腹症,值得推广。     

鉴别酒精性和非酒精性急性胰腺炎的一种新指标:脂酶/淀粉酶比值

研究表明,酒精性胰腺炎急性发作期时血清脂酶水平增高,而胆石性胰腺炎则血清淀粉酶水平增高。因此本文进行前瞻性研究,旨在探讨血清脂酶/淀粉酶(L/A)比值对鉴别酒精性与非酒精性胰腺炎是否有应用价值。材料与方法:分两阶段进行,第一阶段将30例诊断为急性胰腺炎并在入院时作过血清脂酶和淀粉酶的     

急性胰腺炎恢复期后高淀粉酶血症转归分析

目的探讨急性胰腺炎恢复期后高淀粉酶血症的转归,以指导治疗。方法收集本院近3年来22例急性胰腺炎恢复期后高淀粉酶血症患者的临床资料,根据病因分组,采用不同的治疗方法,比较分析治疗后各组血淀粉酶转归的变化。结果根据病因采用不同的治疗后,各组血淀粉酶均有所下降,其中16例血淀粉酶下降至正常范围,有效率为72.73%。结论对于急性胰腺炎恢复期后高淀粉酶血症应准确区别其病因,根据病因才能做到及时有效的治疗。     

不同病因急性胰腺炎的临床特点分析

目的探讨不同病因急性胰腺炎(AP)的临床特点。方法回顾性分析2014年1月-2015年12月广东省人民医院消化内科收治的150例AP患者的临床资料,其中胆源性AP 97例,高脂血症AP 32例,酒精性AP 21例。对比3组患者性别、年龄、合并疾病、实验室检查、严重程度分布、并发症、评分及住院天数情况。正态分布的计量资料多组间比较采用方差分析,进一步两两比较采用LSD-t检验;非正态分布计量资料多组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis H检验,进一步两两比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验。计数资料组间比较采用χ~2检验或Fisher确切检验;等级资料组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis H检验。结果胆源性AP组发病年龄显著大于其他2组,以女性患者多见;而高脂血症和酒精性AP组患者均以男性多见(P值均0.05)。胆源性AP患者合并心脏病、高血压病更为常见,高脂血症AP患者合并糖尿病更为多见(P值均0.05)。与其他2组相比,胆源性AP患者血淀粉酶、ALT、AST水平较高,入院时C反应蛋白和72 h后C反应蛋白水平较低(P值均0.05)。而高脂血症AP组患者血糖、血脂(TG、CHO)以及糖化血红蛋白水平较高(P值均0.05)。3组AP患者严重程度分布差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。胆源性AP患者急性液体积聚的发生率、MCTSI评分均低于其他2组(P值均0.05);而酒精性AP患者全身感染的发生率高于其他2组(P0.05)。3组患者住院天数差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 AP病因的差异不会影响疾病的严重程度及预后,根据患者人口分布、合并疾病及实验室检查的特点,可以早期识别急性AP的病因,作出及时相应的处理,改善患者愈后。     

IL-18与AMY、LPS联合检测在急性胰腺炎诊治中的价值

49例急性胰腺炎(AP)患者分为轻型急性胰腺炎(MAP)组和重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)组,对照组为30例健康人.采用ELISA双夹心法检测IL-18,速率法检测淀粉酶(AMY),免疫透射比浊法检测脂肪酶(LPS).发现起病时MAP组和SAP组血清IL-18水平明显高于对照组,SAP组又明显高于MAP组;MAP组和SAP组血清AMY、LPS水平明显高于对照组.在疾病早期联合检测IL-18、AMY、LPS诊断MAP组、SAP组的阳性率显著高于单项检测.认为联合检测有助于AP的早期诊断、病变程度的判断、治疗效果的观察及预后判断.     

轻型急性胰腺炎并急性肝损害的临床分析

目的探讨轻型急性胰腺炎(MAP)并急性肝损害的特点及其对胰腺炎病程的影响、与病因的相关性及可能的机制。方法 186例MAP患者,统计肝功指标的特点,并在不同病因胰腺炎间进行比较;分析肝损害与MAP病程中的其他临床指标的关系;从血淀粉酶复原时间、腹痛恢复时间及住院天数分析肝损害对MAP病程的影响。结果急性肝损害的发病率为65.6%;以转氨酶和胆红素同时升高常见且升高程度不一;在不同病因所致的胰腺炎间肝损害发生率不全相同(P<0.05),以胆源性MAP伴发的急性肝损害较重(P<0.05)。伴发急性肝损害者入院查体存在腹膜刺激征的比例、发病24 h血淀粉酶水平以及血糖升高的比例均较同期无肝损害者高(均P<0.05)。伴发肝损害者血淀粉酶复原时间、腹痛缓解时间以及住院时间均延长(P<0.05)。结论 MAP患者较常发生急性肝损害,肝损害的程度与胰腺炎病因有关,肝损害会延长MAP的病程;肝损害的发生机制是多方面的。     

Serum amylase and lipase concentrations and lipase/amylase ratio in assessment of etiology and severity of acute pancreatitis

We studied the behavior of serum amylase and lipase in 66 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis in order to assess the ability of these tests and of the serum lipase-amylase ratio to establish the etiology and predict the severity of acute pancreatitis. Forty-two patients had biliary acute pancreatitis, 14 had alcoholic acute pancreatitis, and the remaining 10 nonbiliary, nonalcoholic (NBNA) acute pancreatitis. Serum amylase and lipase were abnormally high in all patients. The elevations of both serum amylase and lipase were significantly lower in patients with alcoholic pancreatitis than in those with biliary pancreatitis, although a considerable overlap was observed between the two groups. No statistically significant differences were found between NBNA patients and those with either biliary or alcoholic forms of the disease. The serum lipase-amylase ratios in patients with alcoholic pancreatitis ranged from 0.2 to 5.6, in those with biliary pancreatitis from 0.1 to 7.9, and in those with NBNA pancreatitis from 0.1 to 4.4. These differences were not statistically significant. No differences in serum enzyme levels were observed among patients without apparent imaging signs of acute pancreatitis (N=20), those with signs of Pancreatic edema (N=36), and those with necrotizing pancreatitis (N=10). The results indicate that serum amylase and lipase concentrations are not able to establish either the etiology or to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis as assessed by imaging techniques. Furthermore, the serum lipase-amylase ratio is not useful in distinguishing acute episodes of alcoholic from nonalcoholic acute pancreatitis.     

Lipase/amylase ratio. A new index that distinguishes acute episodes of alcoholic from nonalcoholic acute pancreatitis.

Because of observations that patients with acute episodes of alcoholic pancreatitis had high serum lipase levels whereas patients with gall stone pancreatitis had high serum amylase levels, a prospective study was undertaken to determine whether the ratio of serum lipase to serum amylase, a newly computed ratio, would discriminate between acute episodes of alcoholic and nonalcoholic pancreatitis. In phase one, 30 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were entered into the study and divided into groups A and B. Patients with renal failure were excluded from the study. Group A consisted of 20 patients in whom the etiology of pancreatitis was alcohol. Group B consisted of 10 patients whose pancreatitis was nonalcoholic in etiology (predominantly gallstones). Serum lipase values in group A ranged 492 to 25,706 U/L (median, 3433 U/L) and in group B from 711 to 31,153 U/L (median, 1260 U/L). These differences were not significant statistically. Serum amylase values in group A ranged from 104 to 2985 U/L (median, 331 U/L) and in group B from 423 to 13,000 (median, 1187 U/L). Although these figures were statistically different (P less than 0.005), there was a considerable degree of overlap in the values between the two groups. The lipase/amylase ratio calculated from the blood sample obtained at presentation appeared to be a promising discriminatory index. The lipase/amylase ratio was calculated by using the amylase and lipase levels expressed as multiples of the upper limit of normal in each case. The lipase/amylase ratios in the alcoholic group ranged from 2.2 to 14.8, whereas the lipase/amylase ratio in nonalcoholic pancreatitis ranged from 0.31 to 1.93. These differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.005). A lipase/amylase ratio of greater than 2 was indicative of an alcoholic etiology, and a ratio of less than 2 suggested that the pancreatitis was nonalcoholic in nature. In phase two, this lipase/amylase ratio of 2 was applied prospectively to an unselected population of 21 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis. Thirteen patients had a lipase/amylase ratio of greater than 2; in 11 of them, the etiology of the pancreatitis was alcohol. Eight patients had a lipase/amylase ratio of less than 2; of them, only 1 patient had an alcoholic etiology for the pancreatitis. These differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Serum lipase and amylase ratio in acute alcoholic and nonalcoholic pancreatitis by using Dupont ACA discrete clinical analyzer

This work involves a retrospective analysis of serum amylase, lipase, and lipase/amylase ratio in alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of the Dupont ACA method with respect to the lipase/amylase ratio as a discriminator, for the etiology of pancreatitis. Thirty-six consecutive patients with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis were studied. These patients were divided in two groups. Group I consisted of 11 patients who had presumed acute alcoholic pancreatitis. In group II, 19 patients had acute biliary pancreatitis, including two with necrotizing pancreatitis and abscess formation secondary to cholilathiasis, five cases were idiopathic in nature, and one was thought to be medication induced (hydrochlorothiazide). In all cases, the Dupont ACA discrete clinical analyzer was used to determine serum levels of amylase and lipase. Concerning the lipase/amylase ratio, the geometric mean ratio for group I was 0.32 (range: 0.11–0.86) and for group II the mean ratio was 0.22 (range: 0.04–0.93). WithP>0.1, the difference between geometric mean ratios was not statistically significant. This study reveals that the lipase/amylase ratio would not have been a good indicator of alcoholic vs nonalcoholic acute pancreatitis. Although there was no significant statistical difference between geometric means, this study does show a significant difference in the number of individuals with serum amylase >2000 IU/dl in nonalcoholic acute pancreatitis patients (8/25 showed levels above 2000 IU/dl) when compared to alcoholic acute pancreatitis patients (0/11 showed levels above 2000 IU/dl). Chi-square analysis between <2000 IU/dl and >2000 IU/dl for the nonalcoholic vs the alcoholic groups yielded aP value of 0.03.     

Lipase/amylase ratio in biliary acute pancreatitis and alcoholic acute/acutized chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic or biliary acute pancreatitis may need different therapeutic approaches. AIM: Assessing the validity of lipase/amylase ratio in differentiating biliary from alcoholic acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Nine male patients (mean age and standard deviation: 39.8 +/- 7.0 years) with alcoholic acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis (group I) and 29 patients, 8 male and 21 female (mean age: 43.6 +/-19.9 years), with biliary acute pancreatitis (group II) were evaluated. Serum lipase and amylase levels were measured in patients with symptoms for no more than 48 hours. The lipase/amylase ratio was calculated based on serum lipase and amylase levels and expressed as multiples of their respective superior reference values. RESULTS: Mean levels of serum lipase (4,814 +/- 3,670 U/L) and amylase (1,282 +/- 777 U/L) in patients of group I were comparable to group II (2,697 +/- 2,391 and 1,878 +/- 1,319 U/L, respectively), but the mean lipase/amylase ratio was significantly higher in group I (4.4 +/- 3.6) than in group II (2.2 +/- 2.2). Lipase/amylase ratio >3 occurred at significantly higher proportions in patients of group I (66.7%) than of group II (24.1%), differentiating the two groups with sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 76%. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Amylase and lipase serum levels did not differ in the two groups evaluated; 2) the lipase/amylase ratio >3 was more often seen in alcoholic acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis than biliary acute pancreatitis, and it may be useful in differentiating these two causes of pancreatitis.     

Serum lipase: a better test to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum lipase is a better test than serum amylase to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis. PATIENTS: Two hundred two asymptomatic chronic alcoholics (Group A) and 29 patients with image-proven pancreatitis (Group P). MEASUREMENTS: Serum lipase was measured using the Kodak Ektachem clinical chemistry slide. Serum amylase was estimated using the Kodak Ektachem clinical chemistry slide or the Beckman Astra amylase chemistry module. RESULTS: The level of serum amylase in Group A ranged from 17 to 347 U/L (mean 71, SD +/- 36 U/L) and in Group P from 180 to 2,985 U/L (mean 722, SD +/- 663 U/L). Thirteen of 29 patients (45%) with image-proven pancreatitis had levels that overlapped those found in asymptomatic alcoholics. The serum lipase levels in Group A ranged from 34 to 600 U/L (mean 186, SD +/- 111 U/L), while in Group P, the corresponding figures were 1,011 to 25,706 U/L (mean 5,822, SD +/- 5,664 U/L). None of the 29 patients with image-proven pancreatitis had levels that overlapped those found in asymptomatic alcoholics. CONCLUSIONS: Serum lipase is a better test that serum amylase to diagnose acute alcoholic pancreatitis.     

Underestimation of acute pancreatitis: patients with only a small increase in amylase/lipase levels can also have or develop severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: In most treatment studies on acute pancreatitis, pancreatologists base their diagnosis on amylase/lipase levels more than three times above the upper limit of normal (>3n) and thus exclude patients with smaller enzyme level increases. The recommendations derived from the results of treatment studies do not take into account such patients. Non-pancreatologists frequently believe that only patients with high enzyme levels have a serious prognosis. AIMS: To question the assumption that high enzyme levels indicate severe, and conversely low enzyme levels indicate mild, acute pancreatitis. PATIENTS/METHODS: This retrospective study includes 284 consecutive patients with a first attack of acute pancreatitis. The cause was biliary in 114 (40%) patients, alcoholism in 83 (29%), other in 21 (7%), and unknown in 66 (23%). Patients were divided into two groups according to their serum enzyme levels (amylase: 3n, n = 196; lipase: 3n, n = 233). Renal impairment, indication for dialysis and artificial ventilation, development of pseudocysts, necessity for surgery, and mortality were taken as parameters of severity. RESULTS: The incidence of severity was the same for both the 3n groups. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of acute pancreatitis is independent of the elevation in serum amylase/lipase level (3n) on admission. Patients with only a slight increase can also have or develop severe acute pancreatitis. Patients with 相似文献   

急性胰腺炎患者血淀粉酶变化和CT诊断的比较

目的探讨血淀粉酶的变化规律及其机制。方法本研究对确诊的172例急性胰腺炎(AP)患者随机分为3组,分别在发病≤12 h、12～24 h、48～72 h行CT和血淀粉酶检查。分析不同时间段CT和血淀粉酶检出率。结果 87.5%患者血淀粉酶在6～12 h升高;100%患者血淀粉酶在12 h以上升高。91.3%的患者在12～24 h之间CT检查发现胰腺炎症变化,但与发病大于48 h相比,无显著差异。12 h之内,血淀粉酶升高的阳性率高于CT诊断的阳性率(χ2=22.04,P<0.01)。48～72 h D级、E级检出率明显高于12 h之内和12～24 h之间的检出率。血淀粉酶随着轻症急性胰腺炎分级水平有上升趋势;随着重症急性胰腺炎分级水平有下降趋势。结论血淀粉酶升高的水平与胰腺炎的病情程度无明显相关性,推测其机制可能与胰腺微循环受损程度有关。     

Validity of serum amylase and lipase in the differential diagnosis between acute/acutized chronic pancreatitis and other causes of acute abdominal pain

BACKGROUND: Raised serum amylase and lipase levels are observed in several abdominal diseases. AIM: Assessing the validity of serum amylase and lipase for the differential diagnosis between acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis, biliary tract disease, perforated gastroduodenal ulcer and acute appendicitis. PATIENTS E METHODS: Prospective study including 134 individuals: 38 with acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis, 35 with biliary tract disease, 17 with perforated gastroduodenal ulcer and 44 with acute appendicitis, mean age (standard deviation) of 42.4 +/- 17.7, 46.7 +/- 18.3, 47.8 +/- 12 and 33.7 +/- 17.8 years, respectively. Serum amylase and lipase were determined at admission to the emergency department. RESULTS: For the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis, when the cutt-off levels of serum amylase were set at the upper normal range level or up to 5-fold as high, the sensitivity decreased from 92% to 74%, the specificity increased from 85% to 99%, the positive predictive value increased from 71% to 97%, and the negative predictive value decreased from 96% to 91%. For serum lipase levels similar figures were obtained for sensitivity and negative predictive value, but the specificity and positive predictive value were lower. When the combination of raised serum amylase or lipase were analyzed, a minor increase was observed in sensitivity and negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: For the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis/acutized chronic pancreatitis: 1) the best cut-off level for both tests was 2-times the upper normal range; 2) the sensitivities of serum amylase and lipase were similar; 3) the specificity and positive predictive value of serum amylase were slightly higher than observed for serum lipase; 4) the sensitivity but not the specificity increased when at least one between amylase or lipase was raised.     

The Admission Serum Lipase:Amylase Ratio Differentiates Alcoholic from Nonalcoholic Acute Pancreatitis

To determine whether the lipase:amylase ratio differentiates alcoholic from nonalcoholic pancreatitis, we conducted a retrospective review of charts with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis at the George Washington University Medical Center between January 1988 and July 1990. A total of 446 charts were reviewed. For a patient to be included in the subsequent analysis, the following criteria were met: 1) the patient had typical symptoms of pancreatitis, 2) serum amylase and lipase were analyzed on admission, and 3) a computerized tomographic (CT) scan or ultrasound of the abdomen was obtained within 72 h of admission. Forty-seven charts satisfied the requirements for inclusion in the study. Data collected from the charts included history of alcohol consumption, age, sex, race, admission serum amylase and serum lipase (from this the amylase:lipase ratio was calculated), peak serum amylase and serum lipase, and number of days of abdominal pain before admission. Patients with alcoholic pancreatitis had significantly lower serum amylase levels and significantly higher lipase:amylase ratios than those with nonalcoholic pancreatitis (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the serum lipase between the groups. The higher the lipase:amylase ratio, the greater the specificity of alcohol as the etiology of acute pancreatitis. Only patients with alcoholic acute pancreatitis had lipase:amylase ratios > 5.0 (sensitivity 31%, specificity 100%). Our data point to the clinical utility of the lipase:amylase ratio in differentiating alcoholic from nonalcoholic acute pancreatitis. Prospective studies will be needed to confirm the clinical utility of this ratio.     

Serum amylase and lipase activities in normal pregnancy: a prospective case-control study

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis during pregnancy is usually based on the association of upper abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, and elevated serum amylase or lipase activities. The changes in these enzymatic activities have not been clearly established during normal pregnancy. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate serum amylase and lipase activities in healthy pregnant women. METHODS: Serum amylase and lipase activities were measured in 103 pregnant women (first trimester, n = 34; second trimester, n = 36; third trimester, n = 33) and in 103 nonpregnant women matched for age and not receiving oral contraception. RESULTS: Serum amylase activity was similar in pregnant women and nonpregnant women during all trimesters of pregnancy. Serum lipase activity was significantly lower during the first trimester of pregnancy compared to nonpregnant women (48.6+/-27.6 vs 59.2+/-29.3 IU/L, p < 0.05) and compared to the third trimester (48.6+/-27.6 vs 76.3+/-35.8 IU/L, p < 0.001). Serum lipase activity was not statistically different between pregnant and nonpregnant women during the second and third trimesters. CONCLUSION: An increase in serum amylase and lipase activities during pregnancy should be taken into account, as in nonpregnant women.