Very high concentrations of serum or plasma amylase (over 1850 U/l) are virtually diagnostic of acute
pancreatitis or acute episodes of chronic relapsing pancreatitis.
When chronic pancreatitis has reached
the stage of scarring and calcification, the serum amylase level is usually normal.
With acute pancreatitis, the rise in serum or plasma amylase is often very brief with the enzyme reaching its highest level within 12–24 hours and returning to normal within 3–5 days.
Slight to moderate increases of serum amylase must be interpreted carefully. They are not diagnostic of acute pancreatitis unless the blood has been
collected too late to catch the peak level.
Other laboratory findings in pancreatitis
In acute pancreatitis the white cell count is raised. A serious condition is indicated if the serum or plasma albumin and calcium and blood haematocrit levels fall and the serum or plasma bilirubin and urea
levels rise.
Falsely elevated amylase levels may result if the serum is markedly turbid or the sample has been contaminated with amylase during analysis
Note: It is useful to measure amylase both in serum and in urine. Amylase is quickly filtered into the urine, therefore a person suffering from acute pancreatitis may have normal serum amylase levels but
high enzyme activity in the urine.
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