COVID-19 and Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels

Blood levels of amylase and lipase are the result of a balance between production and clearance of these enzymes. Normal blood level of amylase and lipase is 0-90 U/L and 0-70 U/L, respectively. Rise in blood levels of lipase and amylase was observed in pancreatic injury. This is an observational, cross-sectional study involving 279 patients [176 COVID-positive and 103 COVID-negative] admitted at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai during COVID pandemic. The mean age was 45 years with SD of 15 years with men:women ratio of 2.7:1. Serum lipase and amylase were raised in 101 cases (57.4%) and 57 patients (32.4%), respectively. Out of the 101 patients with raised lipase levels, 44 (25%) patients showed a severe rise (> 3 times the normal), and out of 57 patients with raised amylase levels, 12 patients (6.8%) showed a severe rise (> 3 times the normal). From this study, it can be concluded that the prevalence of hyperamylasemia was 32.4% and that of hyperlipasemia was 57.4% in the involved study population with COVID-positive status.