Recurrent dehydration in a young girl.

concentration of up to 28 mmol/I has been shown not to interfere with measurement of serum amylase with this technique (personal communication, Boehringer Mannheim). In view of his heavy alcohol intake, we considered that our patient may have chronic relapsing pancreatitis in which a normal serum amylase is seen more commonly. This is unlikely, however, as the patient was well between acute episodes, with no abdominal pain. In addition, there is no evidence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and no pancreatic calcification or other features of chronic pancreatitis on plain abdominal radiograph or abdominal CT scan. Finally, our patient has had no further episodes of pancreatitis since effective treatment of his hyperlipidaemia.