A 49-year-old man presents with sudden severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, vomiting and tachycardia. He drinks 6-8 standard alcoholic drinks daily. Serum lipase is 1,200 U/L (reference 10-140 U/L), more than three times the upper limit of normal, and abdominal ultrasound is pending. What is the most appropriate interpretation of his lipase result?