Lipase Levels for Diagnosing Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen that produces digestive enzymes and hormones. The most common symptom of pancreatitis is abdominal pain. It can be either acute (sudden and short-term) or chronic (recurring and long-term). To diagnose pancreatitis, doctors usually order a blood test to measure the amount of lipase in the body.
Lipase is an enzyme produced by the pancreas that helps break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. When the pancreas is inflamed, it produces more lipase than normal. This increase in lipase levels is often used to diagnose pancreatitis. The amount of lipase needed to diagnose pancreatitis varies from person to person. Generally, a lipase level of at least three times the upper limit of normal is considered to be indicative of pancreatitis.
