Blood tests for pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. Diagnosis of the disease is the main stage on the way to proper treatment. The blood test for pancreatitis changes significantly, so this type of examination is carried out in the first place.

People who do not understand anatomy can confuse the symptoms of pancreatic inflammation with signs of cholecystitis. It is understandable why, because the clinical picture of the two diseases is really similar to each other.

Knowledgeable gastroenterologists are paying close attention to both organs before the therapy. Treatment includes drugs to maintain the pancreas and cholagogue.

Preparation before blood donation

Before taking the tests, it is necessary to adjust your diet for a few days and to follow a number of simple rules. It is necessary to completely eliminate from the diet smoked, fatty, sharp and sweet dishes, in addition, to reduce the intake of strong tea and coffee. All of the above products have a negative effect on the condition of the pancreas and distort the blood data.

Drinking and smoking are strictly forbidden. Alcohol helps to reduce blood glucose levels and increase uric acid. In turn, nicotine, on the contrary, contributes to the increase in sugar and the number of red blood cells, resulting in the indicators may be distorted.

If the patient undergoes physiotherapy treatment, it is worthwhile to wait a few days before blood donation. Also, the results of biochemical analysis can change under the influence of X-rays and ultrasound rays.

It is not recommended to perform strength exercises that can depress the body. Here you can include slopes, squats, running, etc. It is necessary to protect yourself from stress, emotional overstrain, fatigue. All these factors can affect hormones, which, in turn, affect the indicators of general and biochemical analysis.

The main and mandatory condition is the delivery of blood on an empty stomach. At least the interval between the last meal should be 8-12 hours. Also you can not drink any drinks, water, including.

How to properly take tests and prepare for them is explained by the medical worker

How is the material collected for the study of

For the biochemical analysis of blood, exceptional venous blood taken from the ulnar vein is taken. The procedure is performed by a trained healthcare professional under sterile conditions. The patient sits on a chair, extends his arm forward and is pinched by a tourniquet 3 cm above the elbow fold.

The injection site is treated with an antiseptic and a puncture is performed, followed by blood collection in a test tube. After obtaining the necessary amount of biomaterial, the puncture site is disinfected with a cotton ball moistened with antiseptic, and the hand is firmly bent at the elbow.

This is necessary to reduce the risk of hemothoma development to a minimum, and blood is thrombosed faster. The results of the tests are usually ready the next day.

They are performed in any laboratory equipped with special reagents and equipment.

Experts recommend that blood be given for biochemistry in the presence of patient complaints or after visual examination. Based on the results obtained, they diagnose and prescribe effective treatment. After the therapy, the blood should be donated again, in order to assess the quality of the treatment.

Biochemical blood test

Biochemical blood test for pancreatitis is considered to be the most important assay. It is he who helps to reveal the work of the whole organism.

The blood test for pancreatitis will be as follows:

• level of amylase will be elevated - a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down starch;
• level of elastase, trypsin, lipase and phospholipase will be elevated;
• the level of glucose will be increased due to a lack of insulin in the blood;
• the level of bilirubin will be increased because of overlapping of bile ducts with enlarged gland;
• decrease in the amount of protein as a result of protein-energy starvation;
• increased transaminases( not always noted).

Blood sampling from the ulnar vein can be carried out in a vacuum tube

Biochemical blood test can be performed in both acute and chronic form of the disease. Blood for amylase is given several times to follow the dynamics of the disease and evaluate the result of the treatment.

Clinical blood test

The general blood test will also be slightly changed:

• the level of leukocytes rises( more than 8 * 109 / L, which indicates inflammation in the body;
• an increase in ESR( from 15 mm / h and above) indicates the same;
• decreases the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level( observed in case of hemorrhagic complication of the disease)
• decrease in the level of eosinophils( subtype of granulocytic leukocytes)

The parameters of the general blood test do not indicate a specific disease, but allonly the results are considered to be complementary to biochemical analysis, but the findings help to assess the general health of the patient

What diagnostic methods are carried out in parallel?

What other methods of disease determination are known to medicine? In addition to blood testing, there are many other methods that help to identify inflammationPancreas:

• palpation area where the diseased organ is located;
• ultrasound;
• CT and MRI if necessary;
• radiography of abdominal organs;
• analysis of saliva, faeces and urine.

Palpation is performed by a physician to identify a sore organ. With pancreatitis, this manipulation delivers painful sensations. Often, the diagnosis is confused with peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer, so the disease requires careful diagnosis. The study itself should be carried out strictly on an empty stomach.

During a deep exhalation, the doctor inserts his fingers into the abdominal cavity, slightly bent in the phalanges. With chronic pancreatitis, iron is increased and soreness is not as intense. Ultrasound in pancreatitis is carried out to confirm the diagnosis, since this method of diagnosis gives reliable results.

In pancreatitis, ultrasound will show an increase in the organ, borders with an unclear contour, a heterogeneous structure, increased echogenicity at the site of inflammation, in severe disease - cysts and other changes that are not characteristic of the pancreas.

MRI and CT provides an optimal assessment of the pancreas, reveals pathology difficult for diagnosis, detects necrotic, fluid inclusions in the inflamed organ.

Salivary analysis for pancreatitis - stage of comprehensive examination

Saliva analysis is performed only to detect chronic pancreatitis. The most important thing is to determine the content of the enzyme-amylase in it. Reducing its amount will indicate a long and severe form of chronic inflammation of the pancreas.

Most often, these results are obtained in individuals who have chronic pancreatitis for many years. Treatment in such a situation is very difficult, and sometimes impossible.

Urinalysis for pancreatitis will also be changed. In the case of severe inflammation in the urine, the content of α-amylase will be increased and erythrocytes may appear. In severe disease, leukocytes and protein can be detected. Changes in the analysis of stool can also indicate pancreatitis.

Pancreatic inflammation is characterized by the following transformations:

• presence of triglycerides in feces;
• presence of undigested food residues;
• change in color of feces - becomes light( an indirect symptom of the disease, indicating the overlap of the bile ducts).

All kinds of diagnostics can be used for both adults and children. It is not recommended to conduct X-rays, CT and MRI in women during the fetal period, since all types of radiation can adversely affect the health of the unborn child.

To prevent the development of the disease is much easier than to treat it later. If you have any incomprehensible symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

It is necessary to observe a number of simple rules: do not take fat and smoked foods regularly, but eat foods rich in fiber, limit alcohol intake and stop smoking, drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day( in the absence of swelling and other contraindications).Proper prevention prevents the acute course of the disease.