CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF A NEW RAPID ASSAY FOR SERUM LIPASE DETERMINATION

We evaluated a new continuous colorimetric method for serum lipase det ermination based on the use of a 1,2-diglyceride as substrate and a sp ecific 2-monoglyceride lipase. This test was compared with a turbidime tric assay and also with serum alpha-amylase and pancreatic isoamylase determinations. We studied 32 patients with acute pancreatitis, 27 wi th chronic pancreatitis in acute painful relapse, 19 with pancreatic c ancer, 44 with other digestive diseases, 53 with end-stage renal disea se, and 102 healthy controls. The results of the new test were closely correlated with those of the turbidimetric method (r=0.96). Sensitivi ty of the new method was elevated (100%): it was the same as that of t he turbidimetric method, but slightly higher than that of alpha-amylas e and pancreatic isoamylase determinations (93.7 and 96.9%, respective ly). Specificity was 95.5%, i.e. higher than that observed using the o ther tests (86.4, 84.1 and 88.6% for lipase turbidimetric assay, amyla se, and pancreatic isoamylase determinations, respectively). The resul ts demonstrate that this new lipase assay is a sensitive, specific tes t for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.