Hyperamylasaemia & related enzyme factors in renal failure associated with benign & malignant conditions.

ABSTRACT

Total serum amylase activity, its isoenzymes and pancreatic to salivary amylase (P/S) ratio were studied in 40 normal subjects and 47 patients with renal failure, 32 with benign and 15 with malignant conditions. Amylase to creatinine clearance (Cam/Ccr) was studied in 17 normals and 14 patients with renal failure, 10 benign and 4 with malignant diseases. Total amylase activity, and pancreatic and salivary fractions were found to be increased by about 3.4 times the normal in both benign and malignant conditions producing renal failure though the P/S ratio was within the normal range. However, the increase in the urea and creatinine levels in patients could not be related to the increase in serum total amylase. Besides the Cam/Ccr ratio was elevated in patients with both benign and malignant conditions producing renal insufficiency whereas the Cam and Ccr were individually found to be decreased. Why patients with chronic renal failure in both conditions without clinical evidence of pancreatitis should have elevated Cam/Ccr ratio is not clear.