The Frequency of Macroamylasemia and the Diagnostic Value of the Amylase to Creatinine Clearance Ratio in Patients with Elevated Serum Amylase Activity

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients [190] with elevated serum amylase levels were tested for macroamylasemia and the amylase to creatinine clearance [Cam/Ccr] ratio. Macroamylasemia was found in 3 patients. In these patients macroamylasemia persisted after total activity of serum amylase had fallen to nearly normal levels. The Cam/Ccr-ratios were determined 14 times in the 3 macroamylasemic patients. Only 1 of the 14 values was clearly less than 1%. Cam/Ccr-ratios above 4% were found in 83 patients. In 56 of them the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis could not be confirmed. Nineteen of 46 patients with the established diagnosis of acute pancreatitis had Cam/Ccr-ratios below 4%. Cam/Ccr-ratios below 1% were found in patients without macroamylasemia. High and low Cam/Ccr-ratios are not specific for acute pancreatitis and macroamylasemia, respectively, and a normal Cam/Ccr-ratio excludes neither acute pancreatitis nor macroamylasemia.