Hydroxyethyl starch-induced macroamylasemia.

Summarizing, the following results were obtained: 1. After infusion of 500 ml hydroxyethyl starch 6% in all patients an increase of serum amylase occurred, which in most cases reached values twice as high as the basal value. 2. This hyperamylasemia is caused by the formation of a high molecular HES-amylase complex, which cannot be easily eliminated. 3. In no case was hyperamylasemia associated with other clinical signs or symptoms.