Differential Diagnosis Between Biliary and Nonbiliary Acute Pancreatitis: What Is the Importance of Laboratory Tests?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of the causal factors of acute pancreatitis is fundamental for its clinical follow-up, becoming relevant to establishing laboratory criteria that elucidate the difference between biliary and nonbiliary causes. AIM: The aim of this study was to establish criteria based on laboratory tests for the differential diagnosis between acute pancreatitis of biliary and nonbiliary causes and to identify laboratory tests with sufficient sensitivity to propose the creation of an algorithm for differential diagnosis between the causes. METHODS: The research consisted of observational analysis, with a cross-sectional design of laboratory tests of two groups of patients with acute pancreatitis: group A: nonbiliary cause and group B: biliary cause. Hematocrit, white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, lipase, amylase, total bilirubin, oxalacetic transaminase, pyruvic transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were investigated. Data were submitted to nonparametric tests and receiver operating characteristics. RESULTS: Hematocrit values, number of leukocytes, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucose showed no significant difference between the groups (p>0.1). Lipase, amylase, total bilirubin, oxalacetic transaminase, pyruvic transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and alkaline phosphatase values showed a significant difference between groups (p<0.05). The oxalacetic transaminase, pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase tests were most sensitive in determining the biliary cause, allowing the establishment of a cutoff point by the receiver operating characteristic test: pyruvic transaminase: 123.0 U/L (sensitivity: 69.2%; specificity: 81.5%), oxalacetic transaminase: 123.5 U/L (sensitivity: 57.3%; specificity: 78.8%), and alkaline phosphatase: 126.5 U/L (sensitivity: 66.1%; specificity: 69.4%), from which the probability of a correct answer increases. CONCLUSION: It was possible to establish criteria based on laboratory tests for the differential diagnosis between acute pancreatitis of biliary and nonbiliary origin; however, the tests did not show enough sensitivity to propose the creation of an algorithm for differential diagnosis between the same causes.