Lipase

Lipase is an enzyme that helps in breakdown of fats(lipids).Pancreatic lipases, are secreted into extracellular spaces where they serve to process dietary lipids into more simple forms that can be more easily absorbed and transported throughout the body.

This test helps in diagnosis of pancreatitis by measuring the amount of enzyme lipase.Pancreatitis is a condition where the organ pancreas becomes swollen and painful.Basically pancreas produce digestive enzymes and insulin.The enzymes help in breakdown of food in small intestine and the Insulin is released into the blood to control the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.The lipase enzyme is released by the pancreas into the small intestine to help the body absorb fat.

Lipase levels helps to determine pancreas or salivary gland related issues, as well as other gastrointestinal or pancreatic issues and liver disease.Symptoms of having pancreas inflammation are severe abdominal or back pain,fever,loss of appetite and nausea.The lipase test helps to diagnose the stage of pancreatitis such as acute (sudden, severe) or chronic (ongoing) pancreatitis.It also helps to monitor other conditions like Peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of your inner abdominal wall),Strangulated or infarcted bowel (bowel that has restricted blood supply),Pancreatic cystCystic fibrosis (an inherited disease in which thick mucus can damage organs),Crohn’s disease (inflammation of your digestive tract), Celiac disease (triggered by the protein gluten, your immune system attacks your small intestine)

In acute pancreatitis, levels are often 5 to 10 times higher than the highest reference value. Other conditions can also cause slightly increased lipase levels, including blockage of the bowel (bowel obstruction),celiac disease,pancreatic cancer,infection or swelling of the pancreas,cystic fibrosis,inflammatory bowel disease,renal (kidney) failure and alcoholism.With acute pancreatitis, there is usually no high damage and often no further problems develop. Chronic pancreatitis, which may present as a series of acute attacks, may cause permanent damage. As the pancreas becomes scarred, some people develop diabetes and/or the inability to digest foods, especially fats, leading to malnutrition to their body. The lack of normal pancreatic enzymes may lead to adverse effects on food digestion and waste production, causing malabsorption, abdominal pain, greasy stools, and the formation of stones in the pancreas. Complications also include pancreatic cancer as well as osteoporosis. Even if the disease is controlled, the damage is often irreversible. If the disease progresses, it could lead to death.