Pancreatitis
The pancreas help in synthesizing food with the help of digestive enzymes. Vital hormones such as insulin and glucagon are released by the pancreas into the bloodstream. When the pancreas are inflammed, a condition of pancreatis sets in. In a case of pancreatitis, the digestive enzymes end up attacking the pancreas itself. Milder cases of pancreatitis can be treated with dietary and lifestyle changes. Patients with pancreatitis notice dropping body weight inspite of normal appetite and eating habits. This is due to malabsorption as there are insufficient pancreatic enzymes to break down food. At this stage, it can also lead to diabetes since the insulin-producing cells are also damaged.
Acute Pancreatitis is a severe form of the disease that can lead to many a complication. This condition is usually the result of gallstones or too much alcohol. The pancreas help in synthesizing food with the help of digestive enzymes. The symptoms of acute pancreatis are nausea and vomiting, accompanied by a swollen abdomen that it tender to touch. The pain may also be noticed in the back and other areas. Sometimes it may lead to dehydration. Acute pancreatis is a life-threatening condition if ignored and untreated. It can trigger off breathing complications. It may lead to a kidney failure. Chronic pancreatitis also manifests in symptoms such as bloating and oily malodorous stools. Cases of chronic pancreatitis are usually attributed to excessive alcohol consumption. Other factors that can trigger acute pancreatitis are elevated levels of trigylcerides, bacterial or viral infections such as hepatitis or mumps and pancreatic cancer. Any structural abnormality of the pancreas or common bile duct can lead to pancreatitis.
A case of acute pancreatitis may need to be monitored and treated in a hospital. Surgical removal of pancreatic psudocysts may be necessary. Blood tests will reveal unusually high levels of amylase and lipase in patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasound can reveal presence of gallstones and inflammation of the pancreas. Other diagnostic procedures to detect chronic pancreatitis are ERCP - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and CAT scan.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition where the concentration of bilirubin in the blood and tissues increases far more than normal concentration. The person notices yellowish tinge to skin, eyes and mucus membrane. The urine becomes dark and the stools become clay-colored due to lack of bile pigments.
Pre-hepatic jaundice: Occurs due to malaria, thalassemia, Gilbert's syndrome or sickle cell anemia.
Intra-hepatic jaundice: Occurs due to liver conditions such as hepatitis, leptospirosis cirrhosis or fatty liver disease. Neonatal jaundice is usually of this kind.
Post-hepatic jaundice: Occurs due to bile obstruction into the digestive system; usually due to gallstones. Pancreatitis or biliary strictures can lead to obstructive jaundice.
AST blood test
An Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) blood test measures the amount of AST enzyme in the blood. AST or Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transminase (SGOT) is found in high concentrations in heart muscle, liver cells, skeletal muscle cells, pancreas and kidneys, in red blood cells and to a lesser degree in other tissues. Usually an AST blood test is done at the same time as ALT blood test. The ratio of AST blood levels to ALT blood levels helps to determine whether any organ particularly the liver has been damaged. AST blood test is primarily used to diagnose and monitor diseases of the liver such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. AST blood test helps to monitor recovery from or treatement for liver disease. Normal range for a AST blood test is 8 - 35 units per liter (U/L) or 5 - 40 international units per liter (IU/L). AST levels in the blood rise when there is tissue damage. Very high levels of AST in the blood indicate possible tumor, pancreatitis, cancer, cirrhosis, muscular dystrophy or heart failure.
Bibliography / Reference
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