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Hyperamylasemia in patients with eating disorders
Annals of Internal Medicine
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Hyperamylasemia in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia is often due to salivary amylase, not pancreatitis. Measuring serum lipase or pancreatic isoamylase can help diagnose this condition accurately.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Hyperamylasemia is observed in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
- It is commonly misattributed to pancreatitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms behind hyperamylasemia in eating disorder patients.
- To differentiate salivary amylase elevations from pancreatic causes.
Main Methods:
- Measured serum amylase, lipase, and isoamylase activity in 17 eating disorder patients.
- Monitored for clinical signs of pancreatitis during hospitalization.
Main Results:
- Six patients showed elevated amylase; 5 had isolated salivary isoamylase increases.
- Six patients had normal total amylase but elevated salivary isoamylase.
- No patient developed pancreatitis.
Conclusions:
- Hyperamylasemia in anorexia nervosa and bulimia is frequently caused by increased salivary-type amylase.
- Serum lipase or pancreatic isoamylase measurement is key for diagnosis.
- Normal lipase/pancreatic isoamylase levels negate the need for further pancreatitis investigations.
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