Excerpt from Hyperamylasemia Synonyms, Key Words, and Related Terms: elevated amylase, pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis, parotitis, pseudocysts, pancreatic ascites, pancreatic trauma, choledocholithiasis, salivary glands, intestinal disease Please click here to view the full topic text: Hyperamylasemia Amylase is a digestive enzyme that normally acts extracellularly to cleave starch into smaller carbohydrate groups and, finally, into monosaccharides, by hydrolysis of internal alpha-1,4-glycoside bonds, which results in the production of maltose and oligosaccharides. Among healthy individuals, the pancreas and the salivary glands account for almost all serum amylase, 40-45% from the pancreas and 55-60% from the salivary glands. Serum amylase is increased in at least 75% of pancreatitis cases; however, serum amylase can be normal, even in the face of massive pancreatic necrosis. The major limitation of using serum amylase measurement in diagnosing pancreatitis is the lack of specificity because numerous clinical situations can result in elevated amylase. Please click here to view the full topic text: Hyperamylasemia

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