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What is lipase? What is the evidence of increased lipase? Is the condition related to pancreatic re-inflammation? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
What does elevated lipase mean after pancreatitis treatment?
Hello. I am 42 years old behind me with an acute pancreatitis that I had 3 years ago. Of course, after hospitalization, I follow a specialized, easily digestible diet, avoid alcohol and am under the constant care of a doctor. I perform a check-up every six months and yesterday I received my blood test results, unfortunately I can see that my lipase is still slightly elevated, the parameters on subsequent tests are better, but the lipase decreases very slowly.
What does it mean? Whether elevated lipase could mean again inflammation of the pancreas? I feel fine, I don’t feel any discomfort, but my lipase is still high. I don’t really know what I had lipase level before he got sick because I had never examined him.
I guess I should also go to control ultrasoundbecause I did the last research of this type over a year ago. Is it possible that elevated lipase will still persist after acute pancreatitis? Please advise me, which doctor should I see for a follow-up visit?
The doctor explains the connection between elevated lipase and pancreatitis
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pity that you did not provide exactly what is up-to-date lipase concentration, the term “slightly elevated” doesn’t tell me much. During these 3 years, the enzyme concentration should normalize.
One of causes of elevated lipase levels is chronic pancreatitis. I am not saying that it is so in your case, but this condition should definitely be ruled out. In this disease, enzyme levels may only be slightly elevated, in contrast to acute pancreatitis when lipase and amylase levels are high. I think that an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is absolutely advisable.
If the result is unsatisfactory, then you can consider performing computed tomography (CT) of the abdominal cavity, which is a much more sensitive examination. It is a pity that you did not write what the cause of acute pancreatitis was, such information is valuable from the point of view of the diagnosis of your case.
Of course, keep in mind that inflammation of the pancreas it is not the only cause of growth blood lipase levels and urine. Other causes include obstruction of the bile duct or pancreatic duct, such as from gallstone disease, duodenal obstruction, peritonitis, peptic ulcer disease, and celiac disease.
Unfortunately, there are situations in which to increase in pancreatic lipase activity it occurs as a result of the development of pancreatic cancer. Due to its location, the course of this type of malignant neoplasm is initially mildly symptomatic, and routine diagnostics such as abdominal ultrasound are not sensitive enough to detect cancer at an early stage of development. Abdominal CT scan is the so-called gold standard in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
You mentioned that the lipase concentration is still elevated, but it is still decreasing. The situation would be alarming if the concentration increased. It is definitely worth doing the abdominal ultrasound and possibly lipase re-examination. Please see your attending physician with the results.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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