Use

The amylase enzymes are a group of hydrolases that degrade complex carbohydrates (starches) into simple sugars. The pancreas and salivary glands have amylase concentrations that are orders of magnitude greater than any other tissue. These two amylase isoenzymes, pancreatic and salivary, are present in serum and can be measured in physiologic concentrations. Differentiating these isoenzymes is useful where amylase elevations are not from a pancreatic source, helping to determine if hyperamylasemia is due to an increase in salivary or pancreatic amylase. Hyperamylasemia due to salivary amylase may be observed in conditions such as salivary gland disease, chronic alcoholism, postoperative states, lactic acidosis, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, and certain malignant neoplasms.