Serum pancreatic lipase activity in cystic fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis have been found to have abnormal serum concentrations of immunoreactive trypsin and abnormal activities of pancreatic isoamylase. A study was undertaken to discover whether activity of pancreatic lipase is also altered in cystic fibrosis. Serum from 23 patients with cystic fibrosis was assayed for immunoreactive trypsin and pancreatic lipase. Median serum pancreatic lipase activity was significantly lower in patients with cystic fibrosis than in controls, as was immunoreactive trypsin concentration (p<0.0001). Some patients had supranormal lipase concentrations but these were not always associated with absence of malabsorption. Serum pancreatic lipase activity is considerably changed in cystic fibrosis.