Lipase
Also written as: Serum lipase, LPS
An enzyme made mainly by the pancreas to digest fat, checked when the pancreas may be inflamed.
What it measures
The level of lipase, an enzyme the pancreas makes to break down dietary fat. Most of it normally stays inside the pancreas, so the blood level rises when the gland is inflamed or injured.
Why a doctor orders it
It is the preferred blood test when inflammation of the pancreas is being considered, usually during a workup for abdominal pain. It is more specific to the pancreas than amylase and stays elevated longer, which is why many labs have replaced amylase with it.
What is generally associated with a higher result
Broadly associated with inflammation of the pancreas, blockage of the pancreatic duct such as by a gallstone, and reduced kidney function, which slows clearance of the enzyme. Modest elevations also occur in many abdominal conditions that have nothing to do with the pancreas, so the size of the rise and the clinical picture matter together.
What is generally associated with a lower result
A low lipase usually carries no significance on its own. Long-standing damage to the pancreas can reduce how much enzyme the gland produces.
Everyday things that move this number
Not every shift in a value reflects disease. These are ordinary factors known to affect this particular measurement:
- Some common medications, including opioid pain relievers
- Alcohol intake
- Timing - the level rises within hours of pancreatic irritation and falls back over days
- Recent endoscopic procedures involving the bile or pancreatic ducts
Questions to take to your appointment
- Was this ordered because of my symptoms, or as part of a broader panel?
- How does this fit with my amylase result and any imaging?
- Could any of my medications be raising this?
Build a printable questionnaire with your own results →
Where to read more
MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, publishes patient-facing pages on individual lab tests and is a reliable next stop: medlineplus.gov/lab-tests .
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