Clinical chemistry
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Comparative Study
Variations in amylase isoenzymes and lipase during acute pancreatitis, and in other disorders causing hyperamylasemia.
We compare the clinical value of assay of amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) isoenzymes with that of lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) in serum from patients with proven acute pancreatitis or with hyperamylasemia from other causes. In the former group we measured amylase, lipase, and isoamylases daily. Lipase and P(pancreas)-type isoamylases reached the highest mean values on the first day of an attack of acute pancreatitis (day one). ⋯ In the group of patients with hyperamylasemia from other origins, three had macroamylasemia, one had mumps, one had abdominal trauma without pancreatic injury, and one had pelvic inflammatory disease. The specific pattern of macroamylase on electrophoresis permitted a precise diagnosis of macroamylasemia; normal lipase had only ruled out pancreatitis. In the three other cases, lipase and isoamylases excluded pancreatic involvement.