title: Amylase: a disease activity index in multiple myeloma?
abstract: This study reports a case of a patient with lambda-light chain multiple myeloma who developed a high hyperamylasaemia of the salivary type during the disease and soon afterwards died. Ectopic production of amylase by myeloma cells has been described in a few cases and demonstrated by tissue culture and immunohistochemical techniques. The common characteristics of these cases were: salivary amylase isoenzyme increase, high tumor mass, extensive extra-medullary spread, extensive bone destruction and poor prognosis. In patients with amylase-producing multiple myeloma, the onset of hyperamylasaemia heralds a rapid disease progression; therefore, in these patients, a simple test such as serum amylase may represent a reliable disease activity index and provide an additional prognostic information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bindi
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosada
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.forename: Maido
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases