Abstract
Clinical evaluation of measuring serum pancreatic amylase levels in patients with pancreatic diseases was investigated, in special reference to its usefulness for looking at the exocrine pancreatic function. There were significant correlations between serum pancreatic amylase values and the exocrine pancreatic functions (volume and bicarbonate output of the secretin test in 121 cases, and values of the PFD test in 43 cases) when a ratio of serum pancreatic amylase to serum total amylase (%P/T) was calculated. However, there were no correlations between them when absolute values of serum pancreatic amylase (P) were observed. The serum pancreatic amylase was suggested to move gradually from high to low levels when the stage of chronic pancreatitis advanced. No correlations were found between serum total amylase (T) and serum pancreatic amylase (P), serum elastase 1, serum phospholipase A2 levels, respectively, though significant correlations were found between serum pancreatic amylase (P) and serum elastase 1, serum phospholipase A2 levels, respectively. The present results indicate that measurement of serum pancreatic amylase levels is useful for estimating the exocrine pancreatic function and its values are well correlated with other serum enzyme levels specific for the pancreas.
