Renal clearance of amylase during pancreatitis

Abstract

Simultaneous amylase and creatinine clearance studies were performed on 23 patients with pancreatitis, eleven of whom were followed to recovery. The clearance of amylase was elevated during pancreatitis. There was a correlation between the clearances of amylase and creatinine although the clearance of amylase was proportionally greater than the clearance of creatinine during the height of the illness. These studies indicate that the increased clearance of amylase is secondary to an increased glomerular filtration rate and possibly other factors, as yet unknown, including changes in glomerular permeability or disturbances in tubular reabsorption of the enzyme.