Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What is a common clinical manifestation of acute pancreatitis regarding blood tests?

1. Elevated potassium levels

2. Decreased hemoglobin levels

3. Increased lipase levels

4. Decrease in lactate levels

The correct answer is: Increased lipase levels

Acute pancreatitis is marked by the inflammation of the pancreas, and one of the key laboratory findings associated with this condition is an increase in lipase levels. Lipase is an enzyme produced by the pancreas that plays a critical role in the digestion of dietary fats. When inflammation occurs in the pancreas, as seen in acute pancreatitis, there is a significant release of lipase into the bloodstream, leading to elevated serum lipase levels. The elevation in lipase is particularly useful in clinical practice because it typically rises earlier and remains elevated longer than amylase, another enzyme that is often measured in cases of pancreatitis. This makes increased lipase levels a hallmark indicator of the condition and aids in both the diagnosis and management of acute pancreatitis. In contrast, elevated potassium levels, decreased hemoglobin levels, and decreased lactate levels do not specifically correlate with acute pancreatitis and are not reliable markers for diagnosing this condition. Elevated potassium might occur due to renal dysfunction or other factors unrelated to the pancreas, decreased hemoglobin could arise from a variety of unrelated causes such as anemia or blood loss, and decreased lactate levels are not associated with acute pancreatitis; in fact, lactate levels may rise in cases of significant tissue hypoperfusion or sepsis