Amylase

How to Cite This Chapter: Don-Wauchope A, Chetty VT, Ivica J, Kavsak P, Khan WI, Lafreniere M, Nouri K, Solnica B. Amylase. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna. https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/chapter/B31.1269.3.7.10. Accessed March 28, 2024.
Last Updated: May 9, 2022
Last Reviewed: May 9, 2022
Chapter Information

For a brief introduction and guide to abbreviations, see Laboratory Tests: General Remarks.

Analyte [material]

Amylase [S/P/U]

Reference range, target level, or decision threshold

Method dependent!!!; CW

Interpretation of results

↑ Acute pancreatitis, exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, postinflammatory pancreatic cysts/pseudocysts, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (pancreatic type), perforated duodenal ulcer, intestinal obstruction, diseases of salivary glands, CKD, liver disease, alcohol abuse, certain malignancies (lung, thyroid, liver, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers), mumps, ectopic pregnancy; may be ↑ in patients with macroamylasemia (amylase circulating in the form of immunoglobulin complexes, eg, in celiac disease, monoclonal gammopathies, lymphomas)

↓ Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms, pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms

Amylase is not a specific indicator of pancreatic function. Lipase is preferred.

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