Amylase and Lipase half lives

Q: Which of the following enzymes has a longer half-life? - select one

A) serum amylase

B) serum lipase

Answer: B

Serum amylase has a shorter half-life than serum lipase. 

Clinical significance: Amylase levels typically normalize within 24 hours of an episode of acute pancreatitis, but lipase levels remain elevated for several days.

#GI

#laboratory-medicine

Further readings:

1. Ismail OZ, Bhayana V. Lipase or amylase for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis? Clin Biochem. 2017 Dec;50(18):1275-1280. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.07.003. Epub 2017 Jul 16. PMID: 28720341.

2. Pieper-Bigelow C, Strocchi A, Levitt MD. Where does serum amylase come from and where does it go? Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1990; 19:793.

3. Alyahya B, Alalshaikh A, Altaweel A, Alsaleh G, Alsaeed A, Somily H, Alotaibi T, Alaqeel M, Al Mehlisi A, Abuguyan F, Altuwaijri F, Al Aseri Z. The Prevalence of Simultaneously Ordering Amylase and Lipase for Diagnosing Pancreatitis. Emerg Med Int. 2023 Sep 27;2023:3988278. doi: 10.1155/2023/3988278. PMID: 37811499; PMCID: PMC10551519.