Serum amylase and isoamylase in chronic renal failure

In 37 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) serum amylase was higher than in 33 normal subjects (483 U/L +/- SD 185 versus 267 +/- SD 66 U/L, p less than 0.05); while the percentage of pancreatic isoenzymes was within normal limits in 34 patients and only slightly increased in 3. Seventeen of the patients were on conservative treatment, 10 on hemodialysis and 10 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; no significant differences in serum amylase levels were detected between these subgroups. No correlation was found between serum BUN or creatinine and serum amylase but a positive correlation was found between these enzyme levels and duration of CRF (p less than 0.05) in the patients on conservative treatment.