Asymptomatic transient hyperamylasemia after a large intravenous dose of steroid hormone.

Asymptomatic transient hyperamylasemia accompanied with hyperamylasuria immediately after an intravenous dose of 1 gm methylprednisolone has been observed in renal homotransplantation patients. Similar phenomena have also been seen in the other operative patients who received certain amounts of steroid hormone intravenously during their procedure. These cases of hyperamylasemia and hyperamylasuria were studied in detail including time-sequence observation, amylase-creatinine clearance ratio, and amylase isoenzyme analysis. The hyperamylasemia is not due to the general anesthesia or the surgical procedure. It is apparently not due to simple retention of enzyme from poor kidney function. The source of hyperamylasemia is the pancreas mediated by large intravenous doses of steroid hormone.