Evolution of serum amylase, lipase and immunoreactive trypsin during pancreatitis attacks

The characteristics of the blood curves of alpha-amylase (SA), pancreatic lipase (SL) and immunoreactive trypsin (SIT) have been analyzed in a series of patients daily explored throughout the evolution of pancreatitis attacks; urines were also collected to estimate the amylase-creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR). The following results were obtained. a). The 3 enzymes profiles ran roughly parallel during an acute attack. b). SL rose far higher than SA at the onset of the attack but its decay displayed a shorter half-life than the latter; these features resulted in an absence of systematic difference between their times of return to normal levels at the end of the attack. c). SIT more closely correlated with SL than with SA. d). In common hospital practice, simultaneous SA and SL determinations were proving a more reliable help to diagnose pancreatitis attack than ACCR.