This enzyme is found in the salivary glands and exocrine pancreas, and tissue specific isoenzymes can be distinguished by means of dectrophoresis or the use of
inhibitors. Plasma amylase activity is usually increased, often to 5 x or even to more than 10 x ULN, in acute pancreatitis. Its use in the diagnosis of patients presenting with an acute abdomen, and the other causes of an increase in
plasma amylase activity.
Macroamylases
•These rare forms (sometimes present in sera) are probably complexes between ordinary amylase, usually S- type, and IgA, IgG, or other normal or abnormal high-Mwt plasma proteins.
•Cannot be filtered through the glomeruli of the kidney because of their large size (MW > 200 000) and are retained in the plasma, where their presence may amylase activity.
•In macroamylasemia, amylase activity in the urine is < normal, since less amylase is cleared by the kidneys.
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