P-AMYL | Pancreatic amylase

Pancreatic α-amylase, compared to α-amylase, is a more sensitive and specific indicator of pancreatic inflammation.

Pancreatic α-amylase acts in the duodenum, where it breaks down starch and glycogen into maltose.

In diagnostics, pancreatic α-amylase is more significant than regular α-amylase or lipase. It does not increase in other pathological processes except those affecting the pancreas.

The concentration of pancreatic α-amylase in the blood may decrease in the case of pancreatic cancer, but with secondary inflammation, the concentration may increase.

In newborns, the concentration of pancreatic α-amylase in the blood is 50 times lower than in adults. In the content of pancreatic cysts, the activity of pancreatic α-amylase can be extremely high.

Pancreatic α-amylase and lipase are better laboratory indicators of acute pancreatitis than total α-amylase. In acute pancreatitis, both enzymes - pancreatic α-amylase and lipase - usually increase.

Recommendations:

• It is recommended to perform it prophylactically once a year, in the presence of symptoms according to the doctor's prescription, and for treatment control, it is performed periodically according to the doctor's instructions.
• The test is influenced by medications, diet, various diseases, pregnancy, alcohol consumption, drugs. It is advisable not to take medications such as corticosteroids, acetylsalicylic acid, dexamethasone, narcotic analgesics, oral contraceptives, diuretics, and prednisolone preparations before the test.
• For the test, it is necessary to arrive fasting for 12-14 hours.