Where Does Serum Amylase Come From and Where Does It Go?

Serum amylase elevation is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

“…This retrospective study attributed hyperamylasemia to pancreatic injury. Nevertheless, it is cursory to concluded that SARS-COV-2 lead to mild or slight pancreatic injury, for higher serum levels of amylase can be caused by non-pancreatic etiologies, including intestinal disease [ 30 ], malignancy [ 30 ], acidosis [ 31 ], renal failure [ 32 ], and diabetes [ 32 ], other than pancreatic injury. On the other hand, a previous animal model indicated that epithelial cells lining salivary gland ducts were the early targets by the predecessor of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, which could contribute to serum amylase elevation other than pancreatic injury [ 33 ].…”

The Prevalence of Hyperamylasemia and Its Relationship With Mortality in COVID-19 Patients

“…Approximately 11%-13% of patients with nonpancreatic abdominal pain have increased amylase; also, a high level of amylase was observed in 60% of HIV patients [6]. Increasing the level of plasma amylase is due to the enhanced production of this enzyme from different sources (pancreas, salivary glands, & lungs) and declined clearance of amylase [7,8].…”

COVID-19 and Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels

“…A recent report from China described evidence of pancreatic injury, defined as elevated lipase, in up to 17% of active COVID-19 cases [ 4 ]. Amylase which is required for starch digestion is mainly secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands, but other organs [ 2 ], including the normal and diseased lungs [ 3 ], are also potential sources and are cleared by the reticuloendothelial system and the kidneys [ 2 ]. Lipase, which is mostly secreted in adults by the pancreas, is a key enzyme for the digestion of triglycerides.…”

“…Lipase, which is mostly secreted in adults by the pancreas, is a key enzyme for the digestion of triglycerides. Lipase is excreted by the kidneys [ 2 ]. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on pancreatic enzymes.…”