[Amylase and lipase as reference values for the differential diagnosis of chronic kidney failure and pancreatitis]

To differentiate between pancreatitis in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and uremic pancreopathy we investigated 23 patients with chronic renal insufficiency, 28 patients on hemodialysis before and after treatment and 13 patients after renal transplantation. As controls served 15 healthy people. The total amylase in serum is significantly elevated in patients with chronic renal insufficiency regardless if they were treated with hemodialysis or not. This elevation is due to an elevation of the pancreatic isoenzyme. The testing of both isoamylases (pancreatic and salivary) does not contribute to a better diagnosis. Patients with chronic renal insufficiency show a lower concentration of the amylases in their urine than their healthy controls. Lipase and creatinin show a linear correlation in serum. In the individual case it is not possible to draw a definite diagnostic conclusion using the above mentioned parameters because of the wide distribution of the measured values.