A patient may have an elevated serum lipase in the absence of pancreatitis.
Patient selection: elevated serum lipase with pancreatitis excluded
Causes of an elevated serum lipase in addition to pancreatitis:
(1) obstruction of the pancreatic duct by calculus or during ERCP
(2) intravenous heparin
(3) drug-induced contraction/spasm of the Sphincter of Oddi (morphine or other opiates, secretin, bethanechol, other)
(4) pancreatic carcinoma
(5) acute or chronic renal failure
(6) paraneoplastic syndrome
(7) laboratory error or specimen mix-up (checked by repeat testing or use of an alternative method)
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory