BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAmylase - bloodPancreatitis - blood amylaseAmylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is made primarily in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva, and can be found at low levels in other parts of the body. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, it releases increased amounts of amylase into the blood.EnzymeEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article A test can be done to measure the level of this enzyme in your blood.Amylase may also be measured with a urine amylase test.Urine amylase testThis is a test that measures the amount of amylase in urine. Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is produced mainly in the pan...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is taken from a vein.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed. However, you should avoid alcohol before the test. The health care provider may ask you to stop taking drugs that may affect the test. Do not stop taking any medicines without first talking to your provider.Drugs that can increase amylase measurements include:Asparaginase Aspirin Birth control pills Cholinergic medicines Ethacrynic acid Methyldopa Opiates (codeine, meperidine, and morphine) Thiazide diuretics How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted to draw blood. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed This test is most often used to diagnose or monitor acute pancreatitis. It may also detect some digestive tract problems.Acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The test may also be done for the following conditions:Chronic pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitisPancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is present when this problem does not heal or recurs and does not improve, gets worse...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic pseudocystPancreatic pseudocystA pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen that arises from the pancreas. It may also contain tissue from the pancreas, enzymes, a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 40 to 140 units per liter (U/L) or 0.38 to 1.42 microkat/L (µkat/L).Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some laboratories use different measurement methods. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased blood amylase level may occur due to:Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cancer of the pancreas, ovaries, or lungs Cancer of the pancreasPancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cholecystitis CholecystitisAcute cholecystitis is sudden swelling and irritation of the gallbladder. It causes severe belly pain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the salivary glands (such as mumps) or a blockage of the salivary gland duct MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Intestinal blockage Intestinal blockageIntestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Macroamylasemia MacroamylasemiaMacroamylasemia is the presence of an abnormal substance called macroamylase in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic or bile duct blockage Bile duct blockageBile duct obstruction is a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Perforated ulcer Perforated ulcerA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. There are two types of peptic ulcers:Gastric ulcer -- occurs in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tubal pregnancy (may have burst open) Tubal pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Viral hepatitisDecreased amylase level may occur due to:Bone fracture Congestive heart failure Damage to the pancreas with pancreatic scarring Gastrointestinal cancer Pregnancy Risks Slight risks from having blood drawn may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesCrockett SD, Wani S, Gardner TB, Falck-Ytter Y, Barkun AN; American Gastroenterological Association Institute Clinical Guidelines Committee. American Gastroenterological Association Institute guideline on initial management of acute pancreatitis. Gastroenterology. 2018;154(4):1096-1101. PMID: 29409760 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29409760/.Forsmark CE. Pancreatitis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 135.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.Vege SS. Acute pancreatitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 58.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Amylase - blood Amylase - bloodAmylase - urineRelated Information Enzyme(Special Topic)Acute pancreatitis(Condition)Pancreatic cancer(Condition)Acute cholecystitis(Condition)Ectopic pregnancy(Condition)Mumps(Condition)Intestinal obstruction and Ileus(Condition)Macroamylasemia(Condition)Bile duct obstruction(Condition)Peptic ulcer(Condition)Gallstones and gallbladder disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Peptic ulcers - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/28/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Amylase - bloodPancreatitis - blood amylaseAmylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is made primarily in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva, and can be found at low levels in other parts of the body. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, it releases increased amounts of amylase into the blood.EnzymeEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article A test can be done to measure the level of this enzyme in your blood.Amylase may also be measured with a urine amylase test.Urine amylase testThis is a test that measures the amount of amylase in urine. Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is produced mainly in the pan...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is taken from a vein.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed. However, you should avoid alcohol before the test. The health care provider may ask you to stop taking drugs that may affect the test. Do not stop taking any medicines without first talking to your provider.Drugs that can increase amylase measurements include:Asparaginase Aspirin Birth control pills Cholinergic medicines Ethacrynic acid Methyldopa Opiates (codeine, meperidine, and morphine) Thiazide diuretics How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted to draw blood. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed This test is most often used to diagnose or monitor acute pancreatitis. It may also detect some digestive tract problems.Acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The test may also be done for the following conditions:Chronic pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitisPancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is present when this problem does not heal or recurs and does not improve, gets worse...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic pseudocystPancreatic pseudocystA pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen that arises from the pancreas. It may also contain tissue from the pancreas, enzymes, a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 40 to 140 units per liter (U/L) or 0.38 to 1.42 microkat/L (µkat/L).Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some laboratories use different measurement methods. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased blood amylase level may occur due to:Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cancer of the pancreas, ovaries, or lungs Cancer of the pancreasPancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cholecystitis CholecystitisAcute cholecystitis is sudden swelling and irritation of the gallbladder. It causes severe belly pain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the salivary glands (such as mumps) or a blockage of the salivary gland duct MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Intestinal blockage Intestinal blockageIntestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Macroamylasemia MacroamylasemiaMacroamylasemia is the presence of an abnormal substance called macroamylase in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic or bile duct blockage Bile duct blockageBile duct obstruction is a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Perforated ulcer Perforated ulcerA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. There are two types of peptic ulcers:Gastric ulcer -- occurs in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tubal pregnancy (may have burst open) Tubal pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Viral hepatitisDecreased amylase level may occur due to:Bone fracture Congestive heart failure Damage to the pancreas with pancreatic scarring Gastrointestinal cancer Pregnancy Risks Slight risks from having blood drawn may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesCrockett SD, Wani S, Gardner TB, Falck-Ytter Y, Barkun AN; American Gastroenterological Association Institute Clinical Guidelines Committee. American Gastroenterological Association Institute guideline on initial management of acute pancreatitis. Gastroenterology. 2018;154(4):1096-1101. PMID: 29409760 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29409760/.Forsmark CE. Pancreatitis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 135.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.Vege SS. Acute pancreatitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 58.