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Hyperamylasaemia and multiple myeloma.
Colleen M Ross1, Manjit S Devgun, Ian R Gunn
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wishaw General Hospital, Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, 50 Netherton Street, Wishaw ML2 0DP, UK. colleenmross@hotmail.com
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
|February 5, 2003
Summary
This case report details a patient with persistent high amylase levels, later diagnosed with light-chain multiple myeloma. This rare association highlights amylase as a potential tumor marker in specific myeloma cases.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Persistent hyperamylasemia can occur without pancreatic disease.
- Amylase production is documented in various epithelial tumors.
- Multiple myeloma, a plasma cell malignancy, rarely presents with hyperamylasemia.
Observation:
- A 42-year-old woman presented with persistent hyperamylasemia.
- Investigations revealed light-chain multiple myeloma, not pancreatic pathology.
- The patient exhibited rapid disease progression with extensive metastatic lesions.
Findings:
- This case adds to the limited reports linking multiple myeloma to hyperamylasemia.
- The association with Bence Jones myeloma (light-chain) is particularly unusual.
- Amylase levels correlated with disease activity, decreasing with treatment and increasing upon relapse.
Implications:
- Hyperamylasemia in the context of multiple myeloma may indicate extramedullary spread and a poor prognosis.
- Amylase could serve as a potential tumor marker for monitoring disease activity in select multiple myeloma patients.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and clinical utility of amylase as a marker in multiple myeloma.