Pancreatic Amylase, serum or plasma

The amylases are a group of hydrolases that split complex carbohydrates constituted of a-D-glucose units. The two recognized types of amylases are ß-amylase (e.g. plant and bacteria exoamylase) and human a-amylases which can attack the a-1,4-linkage anywhere along a polyglucan chain. Pancreatic amylase is synthesized only in pancreatic tissue by acinar cells, however the salivary glands and female genital, pulmonary tissues. Total amylase determinations used for the evaluation of pancreatic disorders often give misleading information due to high concentrations of salivary amylase present. The evaluation of pancreatic isoamylase would have a greater clinical specificity for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders than total amylase assessment