On the cause of raised serum-amylase in diabetic ketoacidosis.

7 of 13 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis had raised serum-amylase concentrations. Isoenzymes analysis by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed that salivary-type amylases and not pancreatic-type amylases were responsible for the rise in 6 or the 7 cases. This demonstrates that the pancreas is usually not the origin of the increase in serum-amylase. Since salivary-type amylases are widely distributed in glandular epithelium, it is suggested that hyperamylasaemia in diabetic ketoacidosis is most often caused by systemic derangement of carbohydrate metabolism.