Amylase and lipase

Question 1

Where is amylase found

Answer 1

Saliva and pancreatic juices

Question 2

What does amylase do?

Answer 2

Breaks down starch into simple sugars

Question 3

In a patient with raised amylase what does it suggest?

Answer 3

Pancreatitis

Values are normally more than 1000

Question 4

Is it possible for there to be false negative with a patient with pancreatitis

Answer 4

yes, the amylase level is likely to return to normal after 5 days, although pancreatitis may not have resolved

Question 5

What is lipase

Answer 5

as pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, is secreted from the pancreas and is the primary enzyme that hydrolyses dietary fat.

Question 6

When may lipase levels become elevated

Answer 6

In acute pancreatitis it rises after the first 48 hours and remains elevated for 5 to 7 days.

Question 7

Persitantly high lipase levels may suggest

Answer 7

Pseudocyst formation

Question 8

Falsely positive lipase levels occur in

Answer 8

GI obstruction, duodenal ulcer, severe gastroenteritis and cholecystitis (when it is impacting on the pancreas