GI / Pancreas
Lipase
Pancreatic enzyme; preferred marker for acute pancreatitis (more specific than amylase).
Sample
Serum
Clinical reference range
10 to 60 U/L
Adult
Conv: 10–60 U/L
Biology
What it measures
Hydrolyzes triglycerides; secreted by pancreatic acinar cells. Stays elevated 8–14 days after pancreatitis onset.
Clinical use
Why we order it
Acute pancreatitis (≥3× ULN with consistent pain + imaging = Atlanta criteria).
Differential
Causes of abnormal values
Causes of HIGH
- ↑Acute pancreatitis
- ↑Pancreatic duct obstruction
- ↑Renal failure (mild ↑)
- ↑Bowel ischemia/perforation
- ↑Macrolipasemia
Pitfalls
Pre-analytic & interpretation traps
- !Magnitude does NOT correlate with severity — use BISAP/APACHE/Ranson scores.
- !Lipase ≥3× ULN without symptoms or imaging is not pancreatitis — investigate alternative causes.
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