A 45-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to Sudden-Onset

question 408

Multiple Choice

A 45-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to sudden-onset vomiting and severe upper abdominal pain that radiates to his back.  The patient's total bilirubin is 0.9 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is 98 U/L, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is 32 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase is 98 U/L.  Serum lipase is markedly increased.  Abdominal ultrasound reveals a normal gallbladder and common bile duct.  The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is made, and a specific etiology is established.  Which of the following additional laboratory findings is most specific for the underlying cause of this patient's pancreatitis?

• A)Mean corpuscular volume of 108 fL
• B)Serum calcium level of 8 mg/dL
• C)Serum glucose level of 180 mg/dL
• D)Serum sodium level of 150 mEq/L
• E)White blood cell count of 22,000/mm ³

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Definitions:

Environmental Factors

Elements of the physical and social environment that can influence living organisms and human health.

Surface Trait

A personality characteristic that can easily be inferred from observable behavior.

Genetic Differences

Variations in the DNA sequences among individuals, which contribute to the uniqueness of each person's physical and behavioral attributes.

Traditional Notions

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