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Hyperamylasemia with Carcinoma of the Lung
- R. W. AMMANN, M.D.;
- J. EDWARD BERK, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- Ph.D. LOUIS FRIDHANDLER;
- MASATOSHI UEDA, M.D.; and
- W. WEGMANN, M.D.
Abstract
Two patients with pronounced hyperamylasemia and hyperamylasuria, associated with metastatic carcinoma of the lung, are described. The primary lung tumor in the one patient with tissue available for assay contained adrenocorticotrophin and had a pronounced degree of amylase activity. Ion exchange chromatography further showed that the motility pattern of the amylase in the serum, urine, and tumor tissue of this patient resembled salivary amylase. Assay of metastatic lesions in both patients showed amylase activity levels that exceeded those in the serum. These observations indicate that amylase may be produced ectopically in some carcinomatous lung tumors and that amylase of this origin may cause pronounced and persistent hyperamylasemia.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Department of Medicine (Poliklinik) and Pathology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, and the Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to J. Edward Berk, M.D., Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine CA 92664.
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