A nurse is reviewing laboratory findings for three clients. Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse expect for a client who has pancreatitis?

Choice A reason: Elevated ammonia relates to liver failure, not pancreatitis. Pancreatitis involves pancreatic enzyme leakage, not nitrogen metabolism. Scientifically, ammonia rises in hepatic encephalopathy, lacking relevance to pancreatic inflammation, making this an incorrect marker for the condition.Choice B reason: Elevated lipase is a hallmark of pancreatitis, as inflamed pancreatic acinar cells release this enzyme into blood. Scientifically, it’s a specific diagnostic indicator, rising with tissue damage, aligning with pancreatitis pathophysiology for accurate clinical identification.Choice C reason: Prolonged PT/INR reflects coagulopathy, often liver-related, not pancreatitis unless complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Scientifically, this isn’t a primary marker, as pancreatitis targets digestion, not clotting, making it less expected in typical cases.Choice D reason: Decreased albumin suggests chronic liver disease or malnutrition, not acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis doesn’t directly impair protein synthesis. Scientifically, albumin drops over time, not acutely, misaligning with pancreatitis’s rapid inflammatory onset and diagnostic profile.