Abnormal elevation of serum amylase in a patient with acute depression in a state of sub-stupor: A case report

Serum amylase predominantly comprises pancreatic and salivary amylases and its elevation is commonly associated with pancreatitis and other physical diseases. This case report presents a 63-year-old male with first-episode depression who exhibited abnormally elevated serum amylase. Shortly after admission, the patient entered a sub-stupor state. The patient developed symptoms such as high fever and excessive sweating on the second night. In addition, myocardial damage was observed. The serum amylase was found to be elevated in the morning on the 3rd day. Following symptomatic and supportive treatments, the patient’s serum amylase level gradually dropped to drop to normal over approximately 2 weeks. On careful analysis of the patient’s medical condition, we suspect the increased serum amylase level may be linked to his psychiatric symptoms. Based on this case, we speculate that besides physical illness, the stupor symptoms observed in patients with depression may also lead to elevated serum amylase. Therefore, clinicians must prioritize addressing psychiatric symptoms when encountering such situations.