Enzyme levels to

[Guest guest]

,

After reading your email to Kimber about enzyme levels, I wanted to clear the

air about

this. Although a person has elevated enzyme levels during an acute pancreatitis

attack,

they CAN still have elevated levels once their condition has become chronic

pancreatitis.

Some people can go for years with chronic pancreatitis and still show an

elevation in their

amylase and lipase levels during a bad attack. It's usually not until there has

been a lot of

damage and the disease has progressed well into the advanced stages that they

stop

showing any elevation of enzyme levels.

So don't be confused about this. We're all different, and for some, even though

they've

had CP for years, they may still have enzyme elevation. All that means is that

their

damage isn't as severe as some others may be. It's confusing, I know, and

that's why the

doctors have such a hard time when they are relying upon enzyme levels to make a

determination of whether or not a person is having an attack. You just can't

use those

enzyme levels as an indicator, unless they ARE elevated. If they are, it's an

attack, but if

they aren't, it could STILL be an attack! Very confusing....it just depends

upon the

individual, and how much damage has actually occurred...

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/

Note:  All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be

substituted for professional medical consultation.  

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to add that I agree with Heidi. I have cp and have had

elevated levels for one year and during an attack go really high. My GI

says that it is important to go by symptoms and not always levels. He

says the same thing, when the levels come down that can be indicative

that the pancreas is burned out. So, the levels are not always up or

down. Deb