title: Low lipase levels as an independent marker of pancreatic cancer: a frequently neglected condition in clinical setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low lipase levels, which may be an indication of low production due to organ failure, are frequently encountered in a clinical setting, but are usually overlooked. This study examined the values of low serum lipase levels and other clinical parameters in the diagnosis of several clinical conditions, such as in pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with low lipase levels (≤8 U/L) were included in this retrospective study. Clinical data, including diagnostic category, demographic properties, and biochemical and hematological measurements, including serum lipase levels, were extracted. A multivariate analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of certain diagnostic categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 198 patients with low lipase levels were included. Among these patients with low lipase levels, 45 (22.7%) were diagnosed with pancreas cancer. Multivariate analysis identified low lipase level as a significant predictor of pancreas cancer (OR 0.70 [%95 CI, 0.52-0.93], p=0.02). For predicting pancreatic cancer, an optimal cut-off value of ≤5.5 U/L for lipase was utilized, which had a sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 37%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low lipase levels close to zero may be an indication of pancreatic cancer and should not be underestimated in the clinical setting. However, large studies are warranted to delineate the exact diagnostic significance of such low lipase levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. drigultepe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: İlhami
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Gültepe
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Başaranoğlu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zorlu
authors.forename: Abdulhalim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Şenyiğit
authors.forename: Emine Zeynep
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Taşkale
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaralı
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008049:Lipase