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What Is the Connection between Pancreatitis and Amylase?
The connection between amylase and pancreatitis is that amylase concentration in the blood is often elevated in patients with acute pancreatitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. Finding an elevated level of amylase can therefore help narrow in on the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Other conditions, however, can also cause elevations in amylase levels, so this blood test is not fail-proof. The connection between pancreatitis and amylase in chronic pancreatitis is different compared to acute pancreatitis because the loss of pancreatic function seen in chronic pancreatitis can lead to decreased amylase levels in the blood.
To fully grasp the link between pancreatitis and amylase, it helps to understand what amylase is. In brief, it is an enzyme, or substance that helps facilitate chemical reaction, that breaks down carbohydrates into their component parts. Most of the body’s amylase is made by the pancreas, an organ that secretes a number of different substances that aid the body in digesting food. With pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas is damaged by inflammation, the amylase stored in the pancreas is released into the blood.
Normally, the concentration of amylase in the blood ranges from 20 to 110 units per liter. Patients with pancreatitis typically have levels two or three times the upper limit of normal. Elevated levels of amylase are found in 70-95% of patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. As the inflammation of the pancreas resolves, the level of amylase trends back down to normal.
Although there is a link between acute pancreatitis and amylase elevations, other medical conditions can also cause increased amylase levels in the blood. The salivary glands also produce amylase, so infection or inflammation of these glands can cause elevations in amylase. Women who have suffered from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy can often have marked elevations in their amylase levels. Taking certain drugs, such as azathioprine and hydrochlorothiazide, can increase amylase concentrations in the blood. Damage to the intestinal tract, either from lack of blood flow or from obstruction, can also increase the measured amount of this chemical.
In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the link between pancreatitis and amylase is reversed. These patients often have decreased levels of amylase in their blood. This occurs because these patients have a loss of their pancreatic function because the chronic inflammation destroys the cells of this organ. Since amylase is one of the chemicals produced by the pancreas, patients with poor pancreatic function make decreased amounts of this substance.
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![Pancreatitis can affect the pancreas' production of amylase.]()
By: pixdesign123Pancreatitis can affect the pancreas' production of amylase. -
![Problems with the pancreas may be detected via ultrasound.]()
By: acherstProblems with the pancreas may be detected via ultrasound. -
![Symptoms of pancreatitis may include severe stomach pain.]()
By: Photographee.euSymptoms of pancreatitis may include severe stomach pain. -
![Pancreatitis may cause nausea and vomiting in some individuals.]()
By: Piotr MarcinskiPancreatitis may cause nausea and vomiting in some individuals. -
![Alpha amylase, which is made by the pancreas, plays an extremely important role in digestion.]()
By: kaianniAlpha amylase, which is made by the pancreas, plays an extremely important role in digestion. -
![Women who have suffered a ruptures ectopic pregnancy may have elevated amylase levels.]()
By: Tatyana GladskihWomen who have suffered a ruptures ectopic pregnancy may have elevated amylase levels.
Discussion Comments
It's so challenging to understand what's happening in our body sometimes.
I was diagnosed with pancreatitis after high amylase was seen in my blood work last year. I was treated for it but my symptoms didn't get better. I continued to have pain, soreness and digestion troubles.
After a lot of confusion and more testing, I was finally diagnosed with colitis. It turns out that my pancreatitis was due to an infection in my colon. It was causing inflammation in my colon as well as my pancreas which in turn was affecting amylase levels.
It took us months to figure it out, it was crazy.
@ankara-- Yea, intestinal disease and kidney disease can cause it too. But the most common cause is pancreatitis. And I'm sure that you must have had physical symptoms like abdominal pain which also points to pancreatitis.
I agree with you that it's best not to jump to conclusions, but the cause of high amylase is most probably related to the pancreas.
There are also enzymes other than amylase produced by the pancreas. If the cause is pancreas related, more than likely those enzymes will be elevated too.
High amylase levels are seen with many disorders. My doctor never assumed anything about my amylase levels until he did more testing. A CT scan showed that my pancreas was inflamed and that's when I was diagnosed.
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