Lipase activity in blood following endoscopic pancreatography: demonstration of its pancreatic origin and existence of ductal or acino-venous pathways in man.

The presence of a lipase activity has been observed in the blood of patients undergoing an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). The identity between this serum lipase and pancreatic lipase has been demonstrated by their similarity in in chromatographic, immunological, and catalytic properties. Lipase activity in serum increased when pancreatography was accompanied by a passage of the contrast medium to the kidney demonstrating the presence of ductal or acino-venous pathways in man.