Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva (Dec 2008)

Elevação da lipase e amilase no doente crítico: estudo retrospectivo Increased lipase and amilase levels in critically ill patients: retrospective study

  • Margarida Ferreira,
  • Regina Coelho,
  • José Luzio,
  • Paula Coutinho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-507X2008000400008
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 4
pp. 362 – 369

Abstract

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OBJETIVOS: A elevação da lipase e amilase séricas são frequentemente encontradas em doentes internados em unidade de terapia intensiva sem que exista doença pancreática prévia, constituindo um desafio diagnóstico e terapêutico. Baseados nesta evidência os autores propuseram-se a determinar a incidência de hiperlipasemia assintomática nos doentes críticos, fatores desencadeantes e evolução clínica destes doentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo dos doentes internados na unidade de terapia intensiva de 1 de janeiro a 31 de dezembro de 2006, excluídas internações por pancreatite aguda, história de patologia pancreática, insuficiência renal ou falta de dados. Pacientes foram distribuídos em dois grupos (com e sem hiperlipasemia) e feita comparação considerando diversas variáveis clínicas, laboratoriais, imagiológicas. Análise estatística: SPSS 13; testes t de Student e qui² (IC 95%), com significância estatística se p38 ºC (pOBJECTIVES: Elevated lipase and amylase are commonly found in patients in intensive care unit without a previously recognized pancreatic illness, constituting a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The authors therefore proposed to determine the frequency of asymptomatic high serum lipase in critically ill patients, involved risk factors and outcome. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients admitted in an intensive care unit from January 1 to December 31, 2006, excluding admissions for acute pancreatitis, history of pancreatic disease, renal insufficiency or lacking of data. Patients were divided in two groups (with and without high serum lipase) that were compared for clinical, laboratory and radiological variables. Statistical analysis: SPSS 13; Student's t test and Chi-square test (CI 95%) with statistical significance if p< 0.05). RESULTS: 102 patients were included with high serum lipase was present in 39.2% of patients, mean lipase of 797U/L. Patients with high serum lipase had longer hospital stay (p< 0.001), parenteral nutrition (p< 0.001), ventilator support (p=0.04), fever (p< 0.001), hyperamylasemia (p<0.05), hyperbilirrubinemia (p=0.003) and rise of transaminases (p=0.001), with no significant differences in diagnosis, gender, age, APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS, mortality, hypotension, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, lactate, tolerance to enteral nutrition and use of propofol. Imaging study revealed pancreatic alterations in two patients with high serum lipase. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated lipase was commonly found in critical patients, it related with longer length of stay but was not accompanied by increased clinical severity or mortality. It was more frequent with parenteral nutrition. A minority of patients met the criteria of acute pancreatitis.

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