Interpretation
Lipase is the preferred diagnostic marker for acute pancreatitis. Lipase activity typically rises within 4-8 hours of onset of pancreatitis, peaks at abot 24 hours and remains elevated for 7 – 14 days. Compared to amylase, lipase displays a higher magnitude and more prolonged rise above the upper reference interval. The increase in serum lipase is not necessarily proportional to the severity of the attack and normalization is not necessarily a sign of resolution.
When lipase is greater than threefold above the upper reference limit, it has high specificity for acute pancreatitis (85 – 100%), however lower increases in lipase activity may be seen in non-pancreatitic conditions such as liver, stomach or intestinal pathologies. Certain drugs such as cholinergics and opiates may elevate serum lipase. Renal disease may also elevate the serum lipase, although it is less affected than amylase.
Reference Intervals
10 – 60 U/L
Reference ranges updated 18 June 2013 as per SIQAG agreement
Test Method
Enzymatic, colourimetric assay using 1,2 diglyceride substrate. Beckman Coulter AU5822 series analyser. Beckman Coulter reagents.
