Clinical importance of hyperamylasemia during acute gastroenteritis

ABSTRACT

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