Enzymes Entering Bloodstream

[Guest guest]

When your blood is drawn and they check for lipase and

amaylase...Where are these enzymes entering the blood stream? Small

intestines or from the pancreas itself?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Your two questions are good ones. I am not sure about the nitro

for pancreas ducts itself...but I do know that nitro is used to open

or stop spasms of the sphincter that can be dysfunctional that is

associated with pancreatitis (sphincter of Oddi). So it seems

reasonable that it could relax / open up the ducts. But I am not

sure....there might be different nerve responses in the ducts.

As far as the enzymes...they enter the blood from the pancreas

itself - when there is an attack of pancreatitis. They are blocked

from entering the duodenum because of the inflammation going

on and the cells in the pancreas become " leaky " and thus

expose the capillaries to the enzymes and they enter the blood

stream. When the enzymes enter the duodenum, the system is

usually functioning the right way so you do not see them in the

blood to any significant degree.

Hope this helps and that I made sense here.....

Laurie