Abstract
The amylase concentration of ascitic fluid and serum were measured in patients with various types of ascites to determine their normal range. The mean (±SD) nonpancreatic ascites amylase concentration was 42 ± 44 IU/L (range 4–234) and the mean ascitic fluid/serum amylase concentration ratio was 0.44 ± 0.33 (range 0.10–1.55). Of the various types of nonpancreatic ascites (sterile cirrhotic, infected, malignant, etc.), no group had a significantly different ascitic fluid amylase concentration or concentration ratio than any other group. Two patients with pancreatic ascites had a mean ascitic fluid amylase concentration of 1,957 ± 1,093 IU/L and a mean amylase concentration ratio of 5.59 ± 0.02—-both significantly (p < 0.001) greater than those of nonpancreatic ascites.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: