Concentration of Amylase in Serum after Pancreatic Stimulation with a Test Meal

Abstract

A standardized liquid test meal was given to 17 normal persons, 10 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, 12 with acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis and 8 with biliary tract lithiasis. The serum amylase concentration and the trypsin concentration in the duodenum were estimated during digestion of the test meal. Pathological serum amylase values were found in one patient with pancreatic carcinoma, 4 patients with pancreatitis and in no patients with biliary tract lithiasis. A certain number of false positive results were, however, found.

It is concluded that serum amylase estimation during digestion of a standardized test meal cannot be used alone as a reliable method in diagnosing pancreatic carcinoma and chronic or acute recurrent pancreatitis.

Key-words:

• Enzyme tests
• pancreas
• pancreatitis
• pancreatic neoplasms
• pancreatic diseases