Evaluation of serum amylase and lipase levels of renal transplant patients in pediatric age group

SUMMARY Objective: In our study, it was aimed to evaluate serum amylase and lipase levels in pediatric kidney transplant patients. Methods: A total of 52 patients, 25 girls and 27 boys, who were followed up in the Pediatric Nephrology Department of İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine and İstanbul Şişli Memorial Hospital Pediatric Nephrology Department between 2011 and 2021, and 50 healthy cases, 28 girls and 22 boys, were included to the current study. Serum amylase and lipase levels, which were measured during their follow-ups for various reasons, were retrospectively scanned from patient files. Height, weight, blood pressure measurements, primary diseases, material from which they were transplanted, and the time elapsed since transplantation, kidney function tests as well as various biochemical parameters, doses and blood levels of immunosuppressive drugs were noted in the physical examinations of the cases. The relationship with amylase and lipase levels was evaluated. Results: Fifty-two % of the participants were female and 48% were male. The age of participants ranged from 1 to 18, with a mean of 11.86±4.77. The amylase level of the participants was determined as normal in 70.6% (n=72), high in 28.4% (n=29) and low in 1% (n=1). Lipase value was determined as normal in 96.1% (n=98) and high in 3.9% (n=4). The amylase and lipase levels of the study group and the control group were compared. Amylase and lipase levels were found to be significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. Those with high amylase values 93.1 % (n= 27) belonged to the patient client, 6.7 % (n=2) belonged to the control group. Those with high lipase values %100 (n=4) belonged to the patients, the control group lipase was not detected. Height, weight, blood pressure measurements, and biochemical parameters of the patients in the study group and control group were evaluated. It was found that the patient group was shorter, weighed more, had higher blood pressure, had dyslipidemia, and had abnormal kidney function tests compared to the control group, and it was interpreted as the conclusion of high amylase and lipase levels. In addition, in the evaluation of the study group within itself, no significant results were found when evaluated with amylase and lipase levels, and immunosuppressive drugs used and their doses. Conclusion: Serum amylase and lipase levels are high in the kidney transplant patient group. Amylase and lipase levels may be associated with low kidney functions in the transplant patient group, as well as with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity, which are more common in the kidney transplant patient group. In the light of our data, we suggest that the pancreatic functions of the kidney transplant patient group should be followed precisely. More studies are needed to evaluate amylase and lipase levels in the monitoring of kidney functions and to evaluate pancreatic functions of elevated amylase and lipase levels in kidney transplant patients. Keywords: pediatrics, kidney transplant, amylase, lipase, pancreatic function