What is S-Amylase?
S-Amylase is an enzyme produced mainly by the salivary glands and pancreas. Its main function is to break down starch into simpler sugars during digestion. S-Amylase in the blood is used as a diagnostic marker in suspected diseases of these organs, but is not specific for the pancreas because both the salivary glands and the pancreas contribute to its serum levels.
S-Amylase is clinically relevant in suspected salivary gland diseases such as sialoadenitis and salivary stones, but is also used in the investigation of acute conditions of the pancreas, although other tests such as S-Pancreatic Amylase and S-Lipas are more specific for pancreatic disease.
What can an elevated S-Amylase value be due to?
Elevated levels of S-Amylase can indicate disease in the organs where the enzyme is produced, but can also be due to other conditions:
- Salivary gland diseases: Sialoadenitis, salivary gland tumors, salivary stones.
- Pancreatic diseases: Acute pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreatic cancer.
- Other conditions: Renal failure (reduced elimination capacity), macroamylaseemia (formation of large amylase complexes that remain in the blood).
What can a low value of S-Amylase mean?
Low levels of S-Amylase occur rarely but can be seen in:
- Chronic pancreatitis: Reduced production of enzymes due to long-term inflammation.
- Cystic fibrosis: Impaired exocrine function of the pancreas.
- Severe liver damage: Impact on the body's metabolism of enzymes.
Clinical relevance
Measuring S-Amylase is particularly useful in acute conditions with pain in the face, oral cavity or upper abdomen. For a more specific assessment of pancreatic function, the analysis is often combined with S-Pancreatic Amylase and S-Lipas. It is important that the interpretation is made in conjunction with clinical symptoms and possibly supplemented with imaging diagnostics.
Reference range for S-Amylase
1–3 months:
4 months–3 years:
4–17 years: 0.35–1.25 µkat/L
≥18 years: 0.40–2.00 µkat/L
Please note that reference values may vary slightly depending on the laboratory.