RESUMO
To evaluate the incidence and the clinical significance of hyperamylasemia in adult patients with acute gastroenteritis. 140 adult patients were admitted to medical/ surgical ward in Prince Zaid Ben Al-Hussein hospital in the south of Jordan. The clinical significance of hyperamylasemia, related predisposing factors and severity of gastroenteritis were assessed. Hyperamylasemia was detected in 45 patients [32%]. Although hyperamylasemia was found over three times the normal values in 22 cases. The clinical features of acute pancreatitis were recorded in only one case [0.02%] Patients with hyperamylasemia had more severe gastroenteritis with an increased incidence of fever [75% vs. 45%] dehydration [27%vs. 9%] and a higher mean number of evacuations per day [8.5vs 4.5] than those with amylase level in the normal range. Hyperamylasemia was significantly associated with cholelithiasis [35.0% vs. 10.5%] and chronic gastritis or duodenal ulceration [27.0%vs 8.3%]. Although hyperamylasemia is associated with severe acute gastroenteritis, acute pancreatitis in the setting of acute gastroenteritis is a rare event