Tuesday, February, 14, 2012

Macroamylasemia

Table of Contents

Definition

Macroamylasemia is the presence of an abnormal substance called macroamylase in the blood.


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Macroamylase is a substance that consists of an enzyme, called amylase, attached to a protein. Because it is large, macroamylase is filtered very slowly from the blood by the kidneys.

Most people with macroamylasemia have no serious underlying disorder, but the condition has been associated with:

  • Celiac disease
  • Lymphoma
  • HIV infection
  • Monoclonal gammopathy
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Ulcerative colitis


Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)