hyperamylasaemia

Last reviewed 01/2018

The most common cause of hyperamylasaemia is acute pancreatitis in which serum amylase is usually elevated more than 4-fold.

Classification:

• congenital - congenital hyperamylasaemia
• acquired:
• infection e.g. mumps
• neoplasm e.g. pancreatic carcinoma
• vascular e.g. mesenteric ischaemia
• inflammatory e.g. acute pancreatitis, hepatitis, post-ERCP, peritonitis
• trauma e.g. burns, posterior perforating duodenal ulcer, intestinal obstruction or perforation
• drugs e.g. morphine and other opiates
• metabolic e.g. renal failure, renal transplant, diabetic ketoacidosis, macroamylasaemia