High amylase: what it means and what to do

High amylase means there is more of this enzyme in your blood than usual. If you have strong pain in the upper belly, it can be acute pancreatitis: call 112 or go to the emergency department. If you feel well, a mild rise is common and often harmless, but it is worth working out with your doctor.

What high amylase means

Amylase comes from the pancreas and the salivary glands. It rises when one of them is inflamed, or when your kidneys clear it less well.

Two things count: how high it is and how you feel. More than three times above the limit, with strong belly pain, is the typical picture of acute pancreatitis.

With no pain, a mild rise often has a harmless cause. Sometimes it stays a little high for years with no disease at all.

Causes of high amylase

The first ones involve the pancreas, the others do not.

Symptoms of high amylase

High amylase on its own causes no symptoms. If there are any, they come from the cause. Those of acute pancreatitis are:

With these symptoms, call 112 or go to the emergency department. Do not wait for your next test.

High amylase without pancreatitis

It is common to find it high on a routine test, with no pain at all. In that case your doctor usually repeats the test and checks lipase and your kidneys.

If lipase is normal, the amylase often comes from the salivary glands, or it is macroamylase. If lipase is a little high too and stays that way with no symptoms, your doctor may ask for an ultrasound or an MRI scan.

Many people have slightly high pancreas enzymes for years without falling ill. Once tests rule out a disease, it is usually a benign condition.

Which tests to look at together

These tests help work out where it comes from.

What your result means

The upper part of the scale, in U/L, for total amylase.

What to do if your amylase is high

It depends on how you feel. Where to start:

If you take medicines, do not stop them on your own: ask your doctor whether they could play a part.

High amylase: when to worry

Watch for these cases:

Frequently asked questions

High amylase: when should I worry? Straight away if you have strong belly pain: call 112 or go to the emergency department. With no pain, a value more than three times the limit needs your doctor soon. A mild rise should be rechecked, without alarm.

Can amylase be high without pancreatitis? Yes, often. The salivary glands, kidneys that filter less, alcohol and macroamylase raise it without the pancreas being ill.

High amylase with normal lipase: what does it mean? It points to a cause outside the pancreas, like the salivary glands, or to macroamylase. Your doctor decides whether more tests are needed.

The higher the amylase, the worse the pancreatitis? No. The value helps make the diagnosis, but it does not say how severe the pancreatitis is. For that, doctors look at how you are and at other tests.

What should I eat with high amylase? If there is no pancreatitis, you do not need a special diet. Drinking less alcohol always helps. After pancreatitis, follow your doctor’s advice.

Can stress raise amylase? Stress alone does not raise it in a meaningful way. If it is high, it is worth finding the cause with your doctor.

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