Lipase
Also called: Pancreatic lipase
Pancreatic enzyme released into blood during pancreatic inflammation. The single most useful test for diagnosing acute pancreatitis — more specific than amylase.
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What does Lipase measure?
Lipase is an enzyme secreted by the pancreas to digest dietary fat. When pancreatic cells are inflamed or destroyed — most commonly by gallstones or alcohol — lipase leaks into the bloodstream. A value greater than 3 times the upper reference limit, combined with the typical clinical picture (epigastric pain radiating to the back, vomiting) and supporting imaging, defines acute pancreatitis. Lipase has displaced amylase as the preferred diagnostic test because it stays elevated longer and is more specific to pancreatic injury.
What does a high Lipase level mean?
- Acute pancreatitis — the textbook indication; gallstones and alcohol are the leading causes worldwide.
- Chronic pancreatitis — modest elevation possible but often normal.
- Pancreatic duct obstruction — gallstone, tumour.
- Renal failure — reduced clearance.
- Bowel obstruction, perforated peptic ulcer — sometimes.
- Some medications — opioids, diuretics, ART drugs.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis — non-specific elevation.
What does a low Lipase level mean?
- Severe chronic pancreatitis — gland destruction limits enzyme reserve.
- Generally not clinically actionable.
When to discuss with a doctor
Lipase elevation >3× upper limit alongside characteristic abdominal pain warrants prompt evaluation in an emergency department — acute pancreatitis can range from mild self-limited illness to multi-organ failure. Modest persistent elevation without acute symptoms warrants gastroenterology assessment. Mediora.AI doesn't interpret lipase in isolation outside the acute setting.
Related markers
Commonly confused with
- Amylase Both rise in pancreatic inflammation, but lipase stays elevated longer and comes almost only from the pancreas, while amylase also rises from the salivary glands. That is why lipase is usually the more specific of the two.