Whenever there is obstruction of the principal pancreatic ducts, the pancreatic enzymes enter the circulation by the way of lymphatic drainage of the pancreas. The measurement of amylase, one of the pancreatic enzymes, has long been use clinically for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, since determination of the enzyme is relatively simple and prompt.
In Korea, however, not yet has the normal value of serum and urine amylase been fined that we often meet some difficulty in evaluating the level of the enzymes in cases of pancreatic diseases.
A comparative study was made in this paper measuring serum and urine amylase in 45 normal controls, 39 cases with acute pancreatitis 13 cases of pancreatic carcinomas, 6 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst and 24 cases of extrapancreatic diseases (6 cases of acute gastritis, 6 cases, peptic ulcer, 6 cases of acute cholecystitis and 6 cases or cirrhosis of the liver and hepatoma).
In addition, laboratory data other than amylase value were also reviewed in 39 cases of acute pancreatitis.
The level of serum and urine amylase was measured by Somogyi units and the results are as follows:
1. In 45 normal controls the range of serum amylase level was 30?124 units with the mean value of 77.6?27.7 units, and the urine amylase ranged 3.5?129. 1 units with the mean value of 37.6±30.6 units per hour urine.
2. In 24 cases of extrapancreatic diseases there was no significant changes in serum and urine analysis levels from the normal except one with liver cirrhosis; in cases of acute gastritis, peptic ulcer, acute cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma, the ranges of serum amylase were 8?113, 30?196, 37?124, 5?364 units with the mean values of 53.7?45.6, 66.3±51.2, 86.0?70.9, and 102.0?102.6 respectively and the ranges of the urine amylase/hr were 10?59.2, 8?88.2, 10?197, 5.8 ?147.7, with the mean values of 137.1±22.0. 34.9?33.1, 62.5±38.1, 48.5?49.4, respectively.
3. In 39 cases of acute pancreatitis there were significant elevation of both serum and urine amylase activities, where serum amylase ranged 127?1.052 units with mean value of 319.2?183.8 units, the urine amylase 7.2?464.0 units/hr with the mean value of 174.0?96.7 units/hr.
4. In 6 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst the levels of amylase were also elevated; i.e. serum amylase ranged 109?485 units with the mean value of 249.8?175.7 units, urine amylase 7.33?236.7 units with the mean value of 94.8±66.3 units/hr.
5. In 13 cases of surgically proven pancreatic carcinoma there was no significant rise in both serum and urine amylase; the serum amylase ranged 13?158 units with the mean value of 93.8?56.9 units and the urine amylase 19.0?92.07 units with the mean value of 64.7±35.7 units/hr.
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