FAMILIAL HYPERAMYLASEMIA

A six year old boy underwent extensive investigation for recurrent abd ominal pain and was found to have a persistently raised serum amylase. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was normal and macroam ylasaemia was excluded. Serum amylase concentrations were found to be raised in other family members spanning three generations, all of whom were asymptomatic. Clearance studies suggested no evidence of a renal tubular defect and serum lipase concentrations were normal. This is t he first report of apparently familial hyperamylasaemia and the mode o f inheritance is consistent with an autosomal dominant pattern.