For a client with acute pancreatitis whose abdominal pain is not as severe as it was on admission, which laboratory test should the nurse review to evaluate clinical recovery?

For a client with acute pancreatitis whose abdominal pain is not as severe as it was on admission, which laboratory test should the nurse review to evaluate clinical recovery?

• A. Lipase
• B. Creatinine
• C. Bilirubin
• D. Glucose

Answer: (A)

Monitoring recovery in acute pancreatitis relies on tracking pancreatic enzymes. Lipase is preferred because it is more specific to pancreatic injury and tends to stay elevated longer than other enzymes, providing a dependable trend of inflammation as the patient improves. If the abdominal pain is easing, a declining lipase level supports that healing is progressing and the inflammatory process is resolving. Creatinine reflects kidney function, bilirubin indicates biliary or liver issues, and glucose shows endocrine function or stress response; none of these track pancreatic inflammation as directly or reliably as lipase when evaluating recovery.

Monitoring recovery in acute pancreatitis relies on tracking pancreatic enzymes. Lipase is preferred because it is more specific to pancreatic injury and tends to stay elevated longer than other enzymes, providing a dependable trend of inflammation as the patient improves. If the abdominal pain is easing, a declining lipase level supports that healing is progressing and the inflammatory process is resolving.

Creatinine reflects kidney function, bilirubin indicates biliary or liver issues, and glucose shows endocrine function or stress response; none of these track pancreatic inflammation as directly or reliably as lipase when evaluating recovery.