Macro amylasemia in the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis

The presence of macroamylasemia should be considered in the differential di agnosis of hyperamilasemia associated with acute abdominal pain, with suspe ct of pancreatitis. This uncommon and poorly known abnormality is defined a s a blinding of serum amylase to certain proteins forming a circulating mac rocomplex which prevents renal clearance of serum amylase. Two clinical cas es as well as a review of this rare entity are here reported.