The prevalence of pancreatitis in organophosphate poisonings

IÇ Sahin, K Onbasi, H Sahin… - Human & …, 2002 - journals.sagepub.com
Human & experimental toxicology, 2002journals.sagepub.com
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pancreatitis in cases of
organophosphate (OP) poisonings admitted to Yüzüncü Yõl University Teaching Hospital
over an 18-month period. Materials and Methods: A total of 47 patients of acute poisoning
with OP insecticides attended the Emergency Department of the Yüzüncü Yõl Medical
School Hospital, from May 1999 to December 2000, and were prospectively studied. Serum
amylase and lipase levels were studied with colorimetric assay. Serum SGOT, SGPT, LDH …
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pancreatitis in cases of organophosphate (OP) poisonings admitted to Yüzüncü Yõl University Teaching Hospital over an 18-month period.
Materials and Methods
A total of 47 patients of acute poisoning with OP insecticides attended the Emergency Department of the Yüzüncü Yõl Medical School Hospital, from May 1999 to December 2000, and were prospectively studied. Serum amylase and lipase levels were studied with colorimetric assay. Serum SGOT, SGPT, LDH, CPK, K levels, leukocyte count and total hospitalization days were also evaluated.
Results
Four of 47 patients had obviously elevated amylase and lipase levels (amylase >300 U/L, lipase >60 U/L). Only two of the patients with amylase levels between 100 and 300 U/L had also elevated levels of lipase. None of the patients with normal amylase levels had elevated levels of lipase. A total of 12.76% was diagnosed as acute pancreatitis.
Conclusion
Acute pancreatitis as a complication of OP intoxication is not a rare condition. In order to improve the outcome of OP poisoning, early diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is important and serum levels of amylase and lipase should be routinely considered carefully. In acute pancreatitis, serum levels of SGOT, SGPT, LDH and leukocyte counts may also be found to be elevated. However, serum K levels are only slightly decreased.
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