What is Amylase? What Causes Amylase High and Low?

Amylase is a type of enzyme used in the digestion of carbohydrates. This enzyme in protein structure is also present in the blood in small amounts. Due to certain health problems, especially pancreatic diseases, amylase level may go out of normal ranges. The amylase test, which is used in the investigation of diseases that can cause this condition, is a type of test that can be applied as a blood or urine test. When low amylase or high amylase is detected as a result of this test, the results are examined by the physician and more detailed diagnostic tests regarding the underlying health problem are applied if deemed necessary.

What is Amylase?

Amylase, a digestive enzyme It is found in digestive secretions in the mouth and small intestines. Produced in both the salivary glands and the pancreas, this enzyme works in conjunction with other digestive enzymes to help convert carbohydrates into glucose, the smallest building block, and make them available for energy. The pancreas is responsible for producing about 40% of the enzyme amylase in the body.
The remaining part is produced by the salivary glands. Very low or very high levels of the enzyme amylase, which is normally seen in small amounts in blood or urine content, may be caused by pancreatic and salivary gland diseases, infections or some medications used. Amylase enzyme, which is especially used in the investigation of pancreatic diseases, can reach very high levels in the case of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Apart from this, some other diseases such as ectopic (external) pregnancy, stomach ulcers (peptic ulcers), appendicitis, digestive system tumors and alcohol use may also be among the causes of high blood amylase.
Therefore, in cases where pancreatic, salivary glands or digestive system diseases are suspected, the application of amylase test is very useful in terms of evaluating the possibilities of these diseases. In patients applying to health institutions,

How to Test for Amylase?

Amylase test can be performed in two different ways. The first of these is the amylase test in the blood, and the other is the amylase test in the urine. Either or both of these tests can be applied in the investigation of common pancreatic diseases and in some cases other diseases that affect the above-mentioned amylase enzyme level. In general, lipase, trypsinogen, hematocrit tests and liver function tests are also performed together with the amylase enzyme.
In this way, clearer information can be obtained for digestive system diseases or any problem that may affect enzyme levels. The application of medical imaging examinations such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound also helps further research. A urine sample is sufficient for urine amylase test. However, in some cases, your doctor may ask you to collect urine for 24 hours.
Blood amylase test, on the other hand, is performed by examining the blood sample taken into the tube with the help of a thin needle from the arm veins, just like other blood tests. In either case, results are usually available the day or the next day of sample collection. Patients who receive the test results should show their results to their physicians.

Causes of High Amylase

The question of what should be the amylase value is one of the issues that many patients who have this test are wondering about. The normal value of amylase can be specified as 19-86 U/L for adults and healthy individuals. This value is a common and approximate range of values ​​used by laboratories. However, since reference intervals can vary from laboratory to laboratory, it is useful to consider the reference interval specified in the test result.
Reference intervals may change in infants and children, adolescents, old age, pregnancy or periods of various diseases. Apart from these situations, if the amylase level is above the reference values, it may be related to the use of alcohol or some drugs, and may also indicate various health problems. Some of these are:

Causes of Low Amylase

Apart from high amylase in the blood, low amylase may also indicate certain health problems. Some of these are:

In addition to the above conditions, some medications that are used continuously may also cause low amylase in the blood. For this reason, it is very important to inform the physician who requests the amylase test or evaluates the results about the drugs used. In cases where the amylase value is slightly below the reference value, it may be recommended to repeat the test after a while before any disease is suspected. In some cases, slight changes in the enzyme level may occur due to reasons such as fasting or having infectious diseases. For this reason, it is beneficial to act in accordance with the recommendations of the physician for slight lows and heights.

How Does Amylase Value Decrease?

If the amylase level in the blood is above the upper limit of 86 U/L, various disease possibilities, especially pancreatic diseases and especially pancreatitis, come to the fore. In evaluating the possibilities, other test results such as levels of other pancreatic enzymes such as lipase, liver function tests and blood count should also be examined. If the results obtained raise suspicion about any disease, further diagnostic tests should be started.
Computerized tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be used to perform detailed research on organs. If the presence of a tumor is detected, a biopsy can be performed to determine whether the tumor is malignant or not. il. Endoscopy applications can be applied to examine digestive system diseases. With the help of such applications, after the underlying health problem is detected, amylase values ​​can be returned to normal by starting the treatment protocol to be created for the disease.
Pancreatic damage can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment in pancreatitis, which is among the common causes of elevated amylase. In this way, amylase enzyme levels can be reduced to normal ranges with pancreatitis, which is quickly brought under control. In patients who develop amylase elevation due to the drugs used, amylase level can be monitored by switching to different drug alternatives. If alcohol use is in question, this habit must be abandoned. In some cases, the amylase test may also be performed as part of routine health checkups. If the enzyme level is found to be outside the normal ranges as a result of such a test, further diagnostic tests may be required, taking into account the patient's existing diseases. Since early detection of pancreatic diseases is very important for the success of treatment, it is recommended to repeat the tests measuring the levels of amylase and other enzymes at regular intervals. In addition, since the risk of pancreatitis increases in the presence of bile duct obstructions and gallstones, it is beneficial to monitor amylase levels in these patients preoperatively. You can get information about If your doctor deems it necessary, you can get information about your possible health problems by getting different diagnostic tests done, and you can start the recommended treatment as soon as possible. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.

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