What Does "High Amylase Level" Mean?

Posted on Mon, 10 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 Answered on

Tue, 1 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My daughter is 5'3" 214 lbs. She has been having abdominal pains since her 1st pregnancy a year ago. She was told in an er that amalase levels were high. She is pregnant now with their 2nd and continues to have belly pain. She doesn't drink or smoke. Sometimes her pain will be so bad she will go to the ER, only to come back with scripts for heartburn and occasionally pain meds. She won't take pain meds because of the baby. Any suggestions?

Answered by Dr. Ashish Verma (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer: get serum lipase levels done first Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing to HCM. This is Dr. Ashish Verma, a general surgeon answering to your query. High amylase level means pancreatitis... then you need to show her to a gastro specialist or a surgeon at least for a through clinical examination... and an mri my be needed if they feel so...and a few more blood tests like serum lipase levels....as it is more specific for pancreatitis... further management will depend upon confirmation of the diagnosis. Hope that i have answered to all your queries. If you have further queries, i will be glad to answer them. Regards Dr. Ashish Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T