Amylase increased? Anxious symptom!

Amylase is a special enzyme that takes part in the breakdown of carbohydrates. This substance is produced in the pancreas and some other organs, for example, in the salivary glands. By determining the level of amylase in the blood, you can identify various diseases of the digestive system. An increase in the enzyme can be detected both in the analysis of urine and in the analysis of blood. If amylase is increased, it is considered an alarming symptom, talking about diseases in the gastrointestinal tract and other organs.

Human blood contains two types of alpha amylase: S-type and P-type. Urine contains about 65% of P-type, and blood - up to 60% of S-type. To avoid confusion, the P-type alpha amylase in urine is called diastase. The level of amylase in the urine is ten times higher than the activity of amylase in the blood.

Determine the concentration of amylase in the blood can be using a biochemical blood test. To ensure that the result is as reliable as possible, it is recommended to take the test in the morning on an empty stomach, and not to drink alcohol before the test. The normal content of amylase in the blood, both in women and men, ranges from 25 to 125 U / l.

In the same way, you can determine the level of amylase pancreatic, the normative index of which is up to 50 U / l. Ideally, when the biochemistry of the blood pancreatic amylase index tends to zero. This speaks not only of the excellent activity of the pancreas, but also of the absence of inflammatory and stagnant processes in it.

Determine the amylase in the urine can be with the morning urine (medium dose). Before taking this test, it is worth noting the use of fatty and spicy food for several days.

Amylase is increased: the causes

The enzyme amylase is contained in the digestive tract and must not enter the blood. However, if the organ that contains amylase is damaged, it can enter the bloodstream. The reasons for this can be a lot: from the physiological, associated with a particular disease, to mechanical (with shocks received in the abdomen).

The increased content of this enzyme is one of the main indicators in the diagnosis of acute and chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Also, alpha amylase is increased in a tumor in this gland or stones in its ducts that disrupt the outflow of the enzyme. At the initial stage of the course of the disease, the patient may not notice deterioration of well-being, however, if symptoms such as fever or abdominal pains that give in the back appear, doctors should be used as soon as possible.

An increase in the level of amylase may also indicate a disease of the salivary glands - the so-called "mumps" or epidemic parotitis. This viral disease is characterized by damage to the cells of the parotid salivary gland with the ingress of amylase into the blood. Its main signs: visible edema in the parotid part of the face, dry mouth, ear pain and fever. Basically, "mumps" is a disease that affects children.

Amylase is increased in case of acute peritonitis or inflammation of the abdominal cavity, as well as with appendicitis. These diseases are characterized by nausea, vomiting, acute pain in the abdominal region, which is intensified when pressed, as well as fever and severe weakness.

The perforation of the stomach ulcer (duodenal ulcer), renal failure, or diabetic acidosis may also be the cause of the increased blood amylase.

High activity of amylase in urine is observed in inflammatory processes in the liver, cholecystitis and intestinal obstruction. Alcohol poisoning, ectopic pregnancy and complication of diabetes mellitus can also cause an increase in the indicator.

Amylase can also be increased by taking medications such as morphine, various diuretics and oral contraceptives.