[Hyperamylasemia in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Indication of a pancreatic disease?].

Serum concentrations of amylase, lipase, human pancreatic lipase and phospholipase A were measured in 34 patients (average age 28.5 [18-64] years) with anorexia nervosa (9 patients) and bulimia (25 patients). Hyperamylasaemia was demonstrated in 13 of the 34 patients (38%). But in only two of them was there also an elevated concentration of lipase and human pancreatic lipase. Phospholipase A was normal in all. Only one patient with isolated hyperamylasaemia had cholecystolithiasis, which was asymptomatic. In none of the patients with raised enzyme values was there otherwise any evidence of pancreatic or biliary tract disease, of alcohol or drug abuse, hyperlipoproteinaemia or abnormal renal function. In the great majority of patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia who had hyperamylasaemia, this could not be ascribed to pancreatic disease. Even in the two patients who also had an increase in lipase and pancreatic isolipase, there was no clinical and ultrasound evidence of pancreatic disease.