BLOOD AMYLASE ACTIVITY IN DISEASE OF CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM AND IN NON-DIABETIC PANCREATIC DISEASE 1

Abstract

With a modification of the saccharification method 25 normal subjects exhibited amylase activity ranging from 0.5-5.5 units/cc of serum. Hydrolysis was measured at 3 successive time intervals during the mono-molecular phase of amylolysis. A clinical unit of amylase activity is the amt. which liberates 1 mg. of maltose from 350 mg. of starch in a vol. of 50 cc, N/5 NaCl, pH 6.8, 37[degree]C., in 1 hr. Markedly elevated values were found in 4 cases of disease of the excretory function of the pancreas, as expected from previous data, whereas normal values were obtained in 75 patients with disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism[long dash]diabetes and liver disease. These normal findings are considered as clinical corroboration of the recent work of other authors which makes it appear highly improbable that amylase plays a role in the intermediate carbohydrate metabolism.