Clinical Chemistry - Lipase

Elevated lipase concentrations 3-to-4-fold greater than the upper normal limit is indicative of pancreatitis, however, the degree of elevations does not correlate with the severity of the disease.

In pancreatic dysfunction, lipase concentrations rise between 4 and 6 hours, peaking at 48 hours and returning to baseline within 8 to 14 days. It has a half-life of 6.7 to 13.7 hours in plasma. The half-life of amylase (another assay utilised in the diagnosis of pancreatic dysfunction) is less, however, lipase is filtered by the glomerulus and reabsorbed by the tubules which may contribute towards the longer half-life of lipase.