Could Elevated Blood Amylase Cause Gilbert’s Syndrome?
I have Gilbert’s syndrome. Bilirubin greater than 2 and pancreatic amylase 132; a year ago 120 with the norm to 82. Can this elevated amylase be the cause of Gilbert’s syndrome? Should I worry about this pancreas and do additional tests? I also had an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, all normal except for a minimally enlarged spleen, no abdominal pain, normal stool, urine also, I also have esophageal hernia, but no reflux and no complications – Piotr 25 years old.
Gilbert’s syndrome is a congenital syndrome caused by a mutation in the UGT1 gene, which – in short – disrupts bilirubin conjugation in liver cells. The effect is an asymptomatic elevation of serum bilirubin, which is most often detected by routine blood tests. The yellow discoloration of the skin is quite rare, it intensifies under the influence of stress, exercise, starvation, alcohol consumption or diseases with high fever. A hiatal hernia has nothing to do with Gilbert’s syndrome. Increased amylase or borderline spleen size are certainly neither the cause nor the effect of Gilbert’s syndrome and require separate diagnostics under the supervision of an internist or gastroenterologist.
Until the matter is cleared, alcohol should be absolutely avoided – it harms the pancreas and also (as I mentioned) increases the bilirubin concentration in patients with Gilbert’s syndrome.
It is worth mentioning that at the Damian Medical Center, a genetic test can be performed that clearly confirms or excludes the diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome.
Advice was provided by:
bow. med. Ewa Podkaminer-Ligaj – internist at the Damian Medical Center