[Occurrence and nature of hyperamylasemia in chronic alcoholics]

The purpose of this work was: a) the prospective study of the prevalence of hyperamylasemia in 100 patients with chronic alcoholism; b) the determination of the serum isoamylase distribution in patients with hyperamylasemia by an inhibitor assay; c) the search of the origin of elevated serum isoamylase S. Moderate hyperamylasemia was found in 15 patients. The importance of alcohol abuse, the prevalences of cirrhosis and smokers were not statistically different from those observed in normoamylasemic patients. After one week of hospitalization, serum amylase was still elevated in 11 of 14 alcoholic patients. Hyperamylasemia was due to an increase in the isoamylase P in 5 cases, in the isoamylase S in 7 cases, and in both forms in 3 cases. Activities of serum lipase and isoamylase P were roughly parallel. Only two out of 8 patients with elevated isoamylase P had chronic pancreatitis. The salivary origin of elevated isoamylase S was suspected in only one out of 10 patients. This work shows that the origin of moderate hyperamylasemia, observed in alcoholic patients, is often extrapancreatic. It is suggested that the dosage of serum lipase simpler than that of isoamylases, may be routinely used in chronic alcoholic patients for diagnostic purposes.