<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

 My question was: My grandson, not diagnosed with celiac, but being tested,
just came up with high lipase levels which indicate possible pancreatitis.
Does anyone know if there is a possible connection with CD?

Since I posted this question, my six year old grandson's blood tests for CD
came back negative and his ultrasound for pancreatitis is pending. My
grandson had continuous abdominal pain, a combination of constipation,
diarrhea and vomiting.  I have enclosed the following excerpts from replies.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.

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Hi - just wanted to let you know-speaking as a celiac, a veterinarian,
and someone who does drug development and argues about chemistry panel
results with the FDA for a living -- an isolated elevated lipase level
is indicative of nothing-it is consistent with pancreatitis but only if
the rest of the clinical constellation is there -- vomiting, abdominal
pain, ultrasound results consistent with pancreatitis, etc. A single
elevation in an enzyme as nonspecific as lipase is NOT diagnostic for
pancreatitis.  Of course, if you do have the full constellation then
pancreatitis is a possibility. It is also not unlikely if you have the
classic GI signs of celiac (vomiting/diarrhea) since any abdominal
inflammation/irritation, as can occur with prolonged or severe vomiting,
can cause local pancreatic inflammation and elevate the lipase levels.
Also consider your amylase levels-if both are high it adds to support
for the diagnosis of pancreatitis, if not, well amylase is another
nonspecific enzyme.  Hope this is of some use!

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I'm afraid there is. I first was diagnosed pancreatitis, and heard
CDdiagnosis two years later

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For months before I was finally diagnosed with celiac, I recall the Dr. kept
testing for pancreatic function.  After I began the gluten free diet, that
went back to normal and he no longer tests for that.  There may be a
connection, I don't know for sure.

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I don't know if there's any connection, Carol, but many of the symptoms are
the same, like for instance, both cause steatorrhea, floating stools that
leave an oily film on the water.

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I've seen pancreatitis listed several places as a 'side effect' of celiac.
Gall bladder problems too.

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I had pancreatitis twice -- before and after my diagnosis.  (I went 30
years tho' without being diagnosed, so my guts were in horrible shape)
What the doctors found was a blocked common duct.  After diagnosis, they
felt the blockage was due to 'scar tissue' in the small intestine where
the common duct was supposed to drain.

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It appears to me there is a *definate* connection to many many Celiac's. I
make this assumption based on what I have read here over the past year; what
I have read in medical journals and what many of the Celiac Associations have
to say.