Macroamylasemia in HIV infection

A case of macroamylasemia was seen in a 40-year-old HIV-positive bisexual male treated at the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Health Department (Ryan White Clinic). Macroamylasemia is a rare condition encountered sometimes in persons with HIV infection. Apart from the setting of HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, macroamylasemia is seen also in various conditions including liver disease, diabetes, cancer, malabsorption, and autoimmune disorders. Although this biochemical phenomenon requires no therapy, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have persistently high levels of serum amylase and yet do not exhibit any clinical symptoms of pancreatitis or salivary gland inflammation.