title: Diagnostic considerations in acute alcoholic and gallstone pancreatitis.
abstract: Comparison of a group of patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis with a group with gallstone pancreatitis has established the serum amylase level on admission as one of the most useful laboratory tests in aiding to differentiate the two entities. A serum amylase level greater than 1,500 IU was most often due to gallstone pancreatitis, as was elevation of the serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000681:Amylases; D001663:Bilirubin