Among pancreatic enzymes, which tends to remain elevated longer after pancreatitis onset?

• A. Acid phosphatase
• B. Trypsin
• C. Amylase
• D. Lipase

Answer: (D)

When pancreatitis begins, pancreatic enzymes spill into the bloodstream, but how long their levels stay high depends on how quickly each enzyme is cleared from circulation. Lipase has a longer circulating half-life and is more specific to pancreatic injury, so its serum level remains elevated for a longer period—often several days to a week or more after onset. In comparison, amylase rises early but typically normalizes within a few days and can be influenced by nonpancreatic sources like salivary glands. Trypsin rises quickly as an early marker but doesn’t stay elevated as long, and acid phosphatase isn’t a pancreatic enzyme. So, lipase tends to remain elevated longest after pancreatitis begins.