A biochemical blood test is performed to determine the activity of enzymes. Enzymes are protein molecules that accelerate the flow of all biochemical processes in the human body. Each person has several types of enzymes, each of which is responsible for only one strictly defined reaction. Consider one of the enzymes that are actively involved in the digestive process - amylase.
There are three types of amylase: α-, β- and γ-amylase, however, the most common definition of activity is precisely α-amylase. It is produced by the pancreas, and its maximum content is in the saliva and juice of the pancreas. This, in turn, means that calcium ions act as the active center of amylase.
P and S-type α-amylases are isolated. It must be said that amylase is present in both blood and urine. The norm is the content of 65% P-type α-amylase in the urine and about 60% of the S-type α-amylase in the blood. In the course of biochemical studies, in order to avoid confusion and avoid errors, it was decided to call the P-type alpha-amylase diastase. The rate of amylase in the blood for an ordinary person who has no health problems should be no more than 200 units / liter, but the activity of urine diastase can reach up to 1000 units / liter.
It must be said that in determining how active amylase is, the norm plays a significant role, since any deviations from it can indicate pancreatitis or any other pancreatic diseases. Sometimes it may not be the best result of a study that determines the degree to which blood amylase is active. The norm of the put enzyme activity can be exceeded. This condition is called hyperamylasemia. The following factors may become the reason for its identification:
- the onset of acute pancreatitis;
- exacerbation of the chronic form of pancreatitis;
- the presence in the pancreas of stones or tumors;
- alcohol intoxication ;
- acute viral infection, for example, such as mumps;
- ectopic pregnancy.
There are cases in which amylase is quite normal in the blood, while the norm of urine diastase is exceeded. This phenomenon is called hyperamilazuria. It can develop in such situations:
- acute pancreatitis (diastase activity increases 10-30 times);
- various inflammatory diseases of the liver;
- cholecystitis;
- acute appendicitis;
- alcohol intoxication;
- intestinal obstruction;
- in the treatment of diuretics, sulfonamides, oral contraceptives and morphine;
- Gastrointestinal bleeding ulcer.
It must be said that with pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, as well as with the development of total pancreatitis, it may not increase its amylase activity at all. The rate of activity of this enzyme can be reduced. So, for example, a decrease in the activity of urine diastase is detected mainly with such a serious disease, which is hereditary in nature, such as cystic fibrosis. A decreased level of α-amylase activity in the blood can be caused by another acute attack of pancreatitis or pancreatic necrosis.
An interesting fact: amylase is present not only in the pancreas, but also in the kidneys and liver. However, the presence of various pancreatic diseases is determined mainly by the level of its activity. For the study, tests of urine or blood from a vein on an empty stomach are taken in the morning. It should be borne in mind that for more accurate results, you should not first eat fatty and spicy foods. In general, recently, in almost all modern laboratories, enzymatic methods have been used to study amylase activity. Such methods are highly specific and at the same time quite fast and accurate.