Pinpointing Pancreatitis With Laboratory Tests

Abstract

In acute pancreatitis, serum amylase levels peak at 6 to 12 hours after onset and return to normal in 24 to 72 hours. Urinary amylase levels, usually about three times those in serum, may remain elevated for 7 to 10 days. Between acute exacerbations in chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, amylase levels are usually normal, as are most other tests of pancreatic function.