Amylase in the blood, according to the changes in the norm of which is determined by the presence of many diseases, plays an important role in the digestion of carbohydrates in the digestive tract. At the same time, both its increase and decrease can talk about problems.
The norm of amylase in the blood in adults
Amylase is produced by the pancreas, as well as by the salivary gland. It is by the content of amylase in the blood and urine that most doctors can determine the disease of the pancreas or other organs. Under its influence, more complex carbohydrates are cleaved. For example, starch, glycogen and others break down into such small compounds as glucose. This fragmentation promotes their better digestion in the intestine. Amylase can be of two types:
- pancreatic amylase;
- salivary amylase or alpha-amylase.
For the most part, amylase can be found in the digestive tract and should not enter the bloodstream. If the work of the organ containing amylase is disturbed, then only the protein passes into the biological fluid. The presence of amylase in the blood is the main indicator of diseases such as pancreatitis or mumps.
Before you say what the norm of amylase in the blood should be in an adult healthy person. It should be noted that in the adult and the child their level may differ, but the norm of amylase in the blood of women does not differ from men. Therefore, regardless of sex, the total level of amylase in the blood is determined, and its norm is 28-100 U / L.
Alpha-amylase is the total index of total body amylase. Alpha-amylase of blood has a normal rate of 25 to 125 units per liter. But if a person's age is more than seventy years, then the indicators should be the following - from 20 to 160 units / liter. Thus doctors still allocate a pancreatic amylase which is equated to 50 units per liter.
How is the norm of amylase checked by blood tests?
In order to determine the enzyme, it is necessary to conduct a biochemical analysis of the blood of the amylase norm. For this, blood is taken from the peripheral vein. In this case, most often doctors advise their patients how to properly prepare for the delivery of this analysis. For example, you can not eat before the procedure.
Thus it is important to consider, that it is necessary to hand over on the analysis and urine. It is based on the results of such a comprehensive survey can clarify the situation of the pancreas. It should be remembered that for diagnosis it is necessary to collect daily urine. But the collection should begin with the second portion. Normally, the indicator of amylase in daily urine is equal to 1 to 17 units / l.
It is worth remembering that the result of the content and amount of amylase can be influenced by the intake of such drugs as:
- ibuprofen;
- furosemide;
- analgesics ;
- captopril;
- corticosteroids;
- oral contraceptives.
Therefore, before you take the tests, you should stop taking them or tell them about the medicine they drank to the treating doctor. After all, these substances can distort the overall indicator and overstate it.
What can deviations from the norm of amylase tell?
If the patient's amylase is increased, it can be assumed that this was provoked by such diseases as:
- diabetes;
- piggy;
- cholecystitis;
- peritonitis;
- kidney failure ;
- abortion;
- perforation of the stomach ulcer;
- macroamilasemia;
- severe poisoning (most often alcohol);
- tumors in the pancreas.
The reduction of amylase can be a manifestation of such problems as:
- acute or chronic hepatitis;
- toxicosis during pregnancy;
- cystic fibrosis;
- severe liver damage;
- pancreatectomy;
- removal of the pancreas.
Also lowering the level of amylase below the norm is most often observed in patients with high cholesterol in the body.