








CMI 2021;15(1)15-24.html


		Familial Gullo’s Syndrome: A Clinical Case Report

		Mauro Turrin 1 , Lucia Fornasiero 2 

		1	Former Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud “Madre Teresa di Calcutta”, Monselice (PD), Italy

		2	Former Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud “Madre Teresa di Calcutta”, Monselice (PD), Italy
		
		Abstract

		This case report describes a male patient born in 1953 presenting an occasional increase in serum amylase and lipase forty years ago. The monitoring of enzymes was accompanied by radiological investigations, which did not reveal pancreatic pathology. In his family, including 10 siblings, half were carriers of this isolated anomaly; multiple cysts in pancreas, kidneys, and liver were present in some family members, in addition to a pancreatic neoplasia in a sister who did not carry the enzymatic abnormality. Our patient developed colon adenocarcinoma at the age of 67.

		Here we examine the characteristics of non-pathological chronic pancreatic hyperenzymemia defined as such by the main Italian pioneer Professor Gullo.

		

		Keywords: Hyperamylasemia; Hyperlipasemia; Familial Pancreatic Hyperenzimemia; Gullo’s Syndrome; Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Imaging

		CMI 2021; 15(1): 15-24

		http://dx.doi.org/10.7175/cmi.v15i1.1493

		Case Report

		Corresponding author

		Mauro Turrin

		m.turrin@libero.it

		


		Received: 12 January 2021

		Accepted: 12 February 2021

		Published: 30 March 2021

		
			Why Do we Describe This Case

			The finding of isolated hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia not associated with abdominal symptoms involves a series of investigations aimed at ruling out or confirming a pancreatic pathology. The periodic oscillations of these enzymes, with intermittent return to normal values, can configure a benign chronic pancreatic hyperenzymemia, especially if associated with the finding of familiarity

		

		Introduction

		Chronic asymptomatic pancreatic hyperenzymemia (CAPH) is a persistent abnormal increase in the serum concentrations of pancreatic enzymes without pancreatic symptoms and imaging findings of pancreatic diseases. The elevation of serum enzymes is fluctuating, with frequent and temporary findings of levels within the normal range. In 1996, Professor Lucio Gullo for the first time used the expression chronic non pathological hyperamylasemia (CNPH) of pancreatic origin and named it “Gullo’s syndrome” [1,2]. CAPH has been considered a benign condition [3] that can occur sporadically or in familial forms.

		Case Description

		In a Caucasian subject born in 1953, an increase in amylase and lipase was found during a routine blood test check carried out in 1980. The maximum values achieved were:

			for total amylases 228 U/L (normal values [nv] 10-120 U/ L);
	for pancreatic amylase 151 U/L (nv <53 U/L);
	for lipase 766 U/L (nv <67 U/L).


		
			Box 1. Drugs associated with pancreatic hyperenzimemia (modified from [6])

				Paracetamol
	Steroids
	Azathioprine
	Ephedrine
	Ritodrine
	Chemotherapy
	Roxithromycin
	Cyclosporine
	Clozapine
	Pentamidine
	Didanosine


		

		
			Box 2. Drugs involved in the onset of acute pancreatitis (modified from [7])

				Didanosine
	Azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine
	Pentamidine
	Stibogluconate
	Tetracyclines: doxycycline, tigecycline
	Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 
	Metronidazole
	Methimazole
	Antihypertensives: furosemide, thiazide, α-methyldopa
	Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors: captopril, benazepril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril, quinapril
	Angiotensin receptor blockers: irbesartan, valsartan, and losartan
	Amiodarone
	Sulfasalazine
	5-Aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine)
	Statins: simvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin
	Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: sitagliptin, saxagliptin, alogliptin, and vildagliptin
	Glucagon-like-peptide–1 receptors agonists: albiglutide, exenatide, and liraglutide
	Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: canagliflozin
	L-asparaginase
	Valproic acid
	Sulindac
	Salicylates
	Calcium
	Estrogen
	Trenbolone (anabolic steroid)
	Tamoxifen
	Antipsychotics: olanzapine, clozapine, quetiapine, and mirtazapine
	Paracetamol


		

		These findings were never associated with abdominal pains or acute back pain. During the 40-year observation period, the increased values alternated with normal values: no pancreatic disease has been recorded so far. A first ultrasound of the complete abdomen, performed 8 years after the first finding of hyperenzymemia, showed: moderate hepatic steatosis, a small incision at the right kidney, a prostate with adenoma aspect in the central site. The patient was affected by: sleep apnea syndrome, esophageal hiatus hernia, chronic gastritis, diffuse colon diverticulosis, hyperplastic descending colon polyp, arterial hypertension, nasal obstruction, coxarthrosis (arthroplasty), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (in diet therapy only), thyroid node, fusiform aneurysm on the right iliac artery, and prostatic hypertrophy. A new diagnosis of renal insufficiency, viral hepatitis, Sjögren syndrome [4], celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseas [5] was not made. Alcohol intake was occasional and moderate.

		He did not use any drug that could induce hyperamylasemia or hyperlipasemia (Box 1 [6]) or acute pancreatitis (Box 2 [7]).

		His family history revealed:

			a mother who died at the age of 63 years after cholecystectomy for multiple cholelithiasis;
	out of 10 siblings, half were carriers of hyperamylasemia (with a maximum value of 1900 U/L) and/or hyperlipasemia (with a maximum value of 1622 U/L), found after the age of 27-44 years;
	a sister, born in 1936, suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and myelofibrosis, died at 82 years from aplastic anemia;
	a brother, born in 1945, is a carrier of prostate cancer and has pancreatic cysts on abdomen CT scan;
	a 69-year-old brother is a carrier of cystic pancreatic lesions detected by CT scan;
	a brother, born in 1956, is a carrier of isolated hyperenzymemia;
	it should also be noted that out of two sisters without hyperenzymemia, one died at 79 years for cancer of the breast and pancreas, while the other, 81-year-old, carries multiple cysts of pancreas, kidney, and liver.


		The genealogic tree is shown in Figure 1, whilst Table I details the clinical features of the family members.

		
			

			
				Figure 1. Genealogical tree study.

				I, II, III = first, second, and third generation

			

		

		
				
							Affected

							
							Year first answer

							
							Total amylase (nv 10-120 U/L): maximum value achieved

							
							Lipase (nv <67 U/L): maximum value achieved

							
							Observation period (number of years)

							
							Cause of death (year)

							
							Comorbidities

						
	
							Pancreas cancer

							
							Pancreatic cysts

							
							Hepatic and renal cysts

							
							Type 2 diabetes

							
							Arterial aneurisms

							
							Colon diverticulosis

							
							Colon cancer

							
							Hypertension

							
							Prostatic hypertrophy

							
							Prostate cancer

							
							Hip osteoarthritis

						
	
							Affected

						
	
							1936

							
							F

							
							1980

							
							1900

							
							1200

							
							38

							
							Myelofibrosis (2018)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

						
	
							1945

							
							M

							
							1980

							
							900

							
							1100

							
							40

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

							
							

						
	
							1950

							
							M

							
							1980

							
							610

							
							1622

							
							40

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

						
	
							1953*

							
							M

							
							1980

							
							228

							
							766

							
							40

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

						
	
							1956

							
							M

							
							1989

							
							209

							
							656

							
							31

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

						
	
							Not affected

						
	
							1938

							
							F

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

						
	
							1939

							
							F

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							Breast cancer metastasis (2018)

							
							X

							(2008)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

						
	
							1941

							
							M

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							Undifferentiated cancer metastasis (2008)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

						
	
							1943

							
							M

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							Trauma (2003)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

						
	
							1947

							
							M

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							X

							
							X

							
							

							
							

						


			
				Table I. Clinical features of the patient in analysis (*) and his 9 siblings, 5 of whom were carriers of chronic pancreatic hyperenzymemia.

				nv = normal values

			

		

		In our subject the presence of macroamylasemia and macrolipasemia was excluded (as well as macro-creatine phosphokinase—macro-CPK). The periodic control of oncological markers (CA19-9) was negative.

		The evolution over time of total amylase, pancreatic amylase, and lipase values is shown in Table II and Figures 2 and 3. Additional laboratory tests are shown in Table III.

		
				
							Date

							
							Total amylase (nv 10-120 U/L)

							
							Pancreatic amylasis

							(nv <53 U/L)

							
							Lipase

							(nv 2- 67 U/L)

							
							CA 19.9

							(nv <31 KU/L)

							
							CEA

							(in non-smokers nv <4 μg/L)

						
	
							2005

							
							93

							
							

							
							150

							
							8.04

							
							

						
	
							2008, March

							
							115

							
							

							
							151

							
							2.44

							
							

						
	
							2008, December

							
							160

							
							

							
							387

							
							2.04

							
							

						
	
							2009, February

							
							181

							
							

							
							489

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2009, December

							
							66

							
							

							
							22

							
							3.55

							
							

						
	
							2010

							
							90

							
							

							
							76

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2011, May

							
							134

							
							

							
							309

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2011, November

							
							228

							
							

							
							670

							
							9.02

							
							

						
	
							2012, February

							
							65

							
							

							
							32

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2012, June

							
							87

							
							

							
							59

							
							7.89

							
							

						
	
							2012, September

							
							156

							
							

							
							411

							
							8.07

							
							

						
	
							2013, January

							
							

							
							21

							
							39

							
							8.90

							
							

						
	
							2016

							
							

							
							129

							
							766

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2017

							
							

							
							86

							
							504

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2018

							
							

							
							22

							
							

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2019, February

							
							151

							
							

							
							364

							
							

							
							

						
	
							2019, September

							
							117

							
							75.8

							
							219

							
							80

							
							1.8

						
	
							2019, October: colon adenocarcinoma, right hemicolectomy

							
							

						
	
							2019, December

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							4.2

							
							1.5

						
	
							2020, February

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							10.8

							
							3

						
	
							2020, June

							
							65

							
							

							
							27

							
							9.2 (nv <35.4)*

							
							3.3

						
	
							2020, October

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							10.6

							
							2

						
	
							2020, November

							
							141 (nv: <100)*

							
							

							
							402 (nv <60)*

							
							

							
							

						


			
				Table II. Summary table of pancreatic enzyme (and oncologic markers) values in our patient relating to 19 consecutive blood tests, found over a 15-year period. Maximum values reached are in bold. Lipase and total amylase were measured with kinetic colorimetric method, pancreatic amylasis using enzymatic kinetic method, and CA 19.9 and CEA employing chemiluminescence.

				nv = normal values

				*change in normal values in 2020

			

		

		
			

			
				Figure 2. Graphic representation of maximum serum values of pancreatic enzymes (38 determinations) over 15 years in our patient. Enzymes were abnormally elevated, albeit with fluctuations and transient normalization. In the period 2013-2019 only pancreatic amylases were measured in our laboratory.

				nv = normal values

			

		

		
			

			
				Figure 3. Fluctuating values of total amylase and lipase from 2005 to November 2020. In the period 2013-2019 only pancreatic amylases were measured in our laboratory.

				nv = normal values

			

		

		
				
							Parameter

							
							Detected level

							
							Normal range

						
	
							

							
							2018

							
							2019

							
							2020

							
							

						
	
							

							
							March

							
							May

							
							May

							
							October

							(pre-surgery)

							
							December (pre-chemoterapy started by 12/2019)

							
							January

							
							February

							
							March

							
							June

							
							July

							
							October

							
							November

							
							

						
	
							Glucose (mmol/L)

							
							7.6

							
							

							
							5.2

							
							7.5

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							7.5

							
							7.7

							
							

							
							3.35-5.55

						
	
							Glycated hemoglobin (%)

							
							

							
							6.2

							
							5.8

							
							4.7

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							6.3

							
							

							
							4-6

						
	
							Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)

							
							17

							
							

							
							

							
							23

							
							19

							
							18

							
							20

							
							17

							
							37

							
							26

							
							29

							
							

							
							<35

						
	
							Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)

							
							14

							
							23

							
							

							
							29

							
							23

							
							15

							
							20

							
							14

							
							34

							
							22

							
							39

							
							

							
							<45

						
	
							Total bilirubin (µmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							10.5

							
							8.9

							
							11.3

							
							9.8

							
							16.3

							
							16.9

							
							13

							
							

							
							1.7-17

						
	
							Conjugated bilirubin (µmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							4.3

							
							4.0

							
							4.9

							
							3.8

							
							6.4

							
							2.85

							
							

							
							

							
							<5.1

						
	
							γ-glutamyltransferase

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							35

							
							34

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							51

							
							70

							
							60

							
							3-55

						
	
							Sodium (mmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							139

							
							138

							
							138

							
							142

							
							140

							
							138

							
							146

							
							136

							
							

							
							136-145

						
	
							Potassium (mmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							3.8

							
							3.8

							
							3.9

							
							3.8

							
							3.8

							
							3.8

							
							4.7

							
							3.8

							
							

							
							

						
	
							Total creatine kinase (U/L)

							
							117

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							<171

						
	
							C-reactive protein (mg/L)

							
							30.46

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							3.27

							
							

							
							

							
							<5

						
	
							Creatinine (µmol/L)

							
							

							
							83

							
							87

							
							99

							
							103

							
							103

							
							95

							
							102

							
							116

							
							104

							
							93

							
							

							
							64-104

						
	
							Total cholesterol (mmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							5.11

							
							5.05

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							4.9

							
							

							
							

							
							<4.92

						
	
							HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							1.21

							
							1.18

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							1.06

							
							

							
							

							
							<1.40

						
	
							Triglycerides (mmol/L)

							
							

							
							

							
							1.10

							
							1.61

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							1.36

							
							

							
							

							
							<1.70

						
	
							Prostate specific antigen (PSA) (µg/L)

							
							

							
							1.69

							
							

							
							1.73

							
							1.42

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							1.23

							
							1.51

							
							

							
							<4

						
	
							Red blood cells (× 1012/L)

							
							

							
							5.39

							
							

							
							5.24

							
							4.86

							
							4.9

							
							4.42

							
							4.37

							
							4.05

							
							4.55

							
							5.53

							
							

							
							4.50-5.50

						
	
							Hemoglobin (g/L)

							
							

							
							161

							
							

							
							155

							
							142

							
							141

							
							128

							
							136

							
							136

							
							147

							
							163

							
							

							
							135-160

						
	
							Platelets (× 109/L)

							
							

							
							165

							
							

							
							144

							
							161

							
							160

							
							142

							
							180

							
							130

							
							170

							
							156

							
							

							
							150-400

						
	
							White blood cells (× 109/L)

							
							

							
							7.19

							
							

							
							1.88

							
							5.85

							
							4.15

							
							3.6

							
							4.46

							
							3.02

							
							4.34

							
							4.80

							
							

							
							4-10

						
	
							Neutrophils (× 109/L)

							
							

							
							4.23

							
							

							
							1.31

							
							3.42

							
							1.92

							
							1.97

							
							2.36

							
							1.39

							
							2.45

							
							2.32

							
							

							
							1.9-8

						
	
							Total protein (g/dL)

							
							

							
							

							
							6.8

							
							6.7

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							6.9

							
							

							
							

							
							6.6-8.7

						
	
							Albumin (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							66.4

							
							66.1

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							55.8-66.1

						
	
							α-1-globulins (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							2.8

							
							3.1

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							2.9-4.9

						
	
							α-2-globulins (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							8.1

							
							7.8

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							7.1-11.8

						
	
							ß-1-globulins (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							6.3

							
							6.3

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							4.7-7.2

						
	
							ß-2-globulins (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							4.3

							
							4.5

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							3.2-6.5

						
	
							γ-globulins (%)

							
							

							
							

							
							12.1

							
							11.8

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							

							
							11.1-18.8

						


			
				Table III. Summary table of laboratory tests performed during the last two years (2018-2020), before and after surgery (hemicolectomy) with subsequent chemotherapy.

			

		

		In 2018, after 38 years from the first finding of hyperenzymemia, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the upper abdomen revealed: liver containing some small cystic formations scattered in both lobes, the greatest being 10 mm large; pancreas within limits; some bilateral renal cystic cortical formation, greater than 17 mm; no areas of pathological enhancement after paramagnetic contrast medium infusion (gadoteridol) of the upper abdomen organs. The magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) [2] showed no biliary lithiasis, no dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary tree, hepato-choledochus with a maximum caliber of 7 mm, regular Wirsung duct (Figure 4).

		
			

			
				Figure 4. Findings from magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) performed in 2018. The arrows indicate normal pancreas (A and B).

			

		

		
			

			
				Figure 5. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan in October 2020 showed normal pancreas (red arrow).

			

		

		The laboratory tests performed in February 2019 (Table II) demonstrated: total amylase = 151 U/L (nv 10-120 U/L), lipase = 364 U/L (nv 2-67 U/L), γGT = 53 U/L (nv <55 U/L), blood glucose = 107 mg/dL, total cholesterol = 197 mg/dL, triglicerides = 153 mg/dl. The laboratory tests in September 2019 have found: lipase = 219 U/L (nv 13-60 U/L), α faecal calprotectin = 81 μg/g faeces (nv <50 μg/g) [8], CA 19-9 = 80 KU/L (nv <31 KU/L), positive occult blood in the faeces.

		In October 2019, colonoscopy showed an ulcer in the right flessure and the biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent right hemicolectomy (October 2019) and subsequent 8 cycles of chemotherapy (oxaliplatin + capecitabine). He was negative for the nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19. Laboratory tests in June 2020, after the last course of chemotherapy, showed: amylase = 65 U/L (nv 10-120 U/L), lipase = 27 U/L (nv 2-67 U/L), CA 19-9 = 9.2 KU/L (nv <35.4 KU/L), CEA = 3.3 μg/L (nv <4.0 μg/L). The contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed normal pancreas, minute hypodensity of cystic appearance in the liver, bilateral renal cysts, the largest 24 mm on the left.

		The most recent laboratory tests, performed in November 2020 (Tables II), detected serum amylase = 141 U/L (nv <100 U/L) and serum lipase = 402 U/L (nv <60 U/L). The contrast-enhanced abdominal CT showed normal pancreas, unchanged liver, and kidney cysts (Figure 5).

		
			What should the clinician ask him/herself or the patient?

				Are changes in pancreatic enzymes associated with abdominal disorders?
	Was the finding of hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia occasional?
	Is periodic control of pancreatic enzymes recommended?
	What first level investigations should be performed?
	Which second level investigations are to be considered optional?
	How long should pancreatic enzymes be monitored?
	Is there familiarity?
	When can we reassure the patient about the benignity of the anomaly?
	Could there be dietary suggestions or drug treatments capable of reducing the pancreatic abnormality?


		

		Discussion

		Our clinical case meets the criteria for the definition of chronic asymptomatic pancreatic hyperenzymemia. In fact, the diagnostic criteria are [9,10]:

			an increase by >10% of the upper normal limits of serum amylase and/or lipase found on >3 occasions, lasting more than 6 months;
	absence of upper abdominal or back pain;
	idiopathic presentation.


		We excluded through the MRCP the presence of any associated congenital anomalies (pancreas divisum, annular pancreas, Wirsungocele, cystic lesions at the pancreatic tail, Santorinicele, diffuse dilation of the main pancreatic duct) and intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas, as these alterations have been described in some cases [11-14]. We did not perform a MRCP with secretin stimulation, currently considered as the method of choice in the study of CAPH subjects [9,15] for the search for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction or even early (mild) chronic pancreatitis: this investigation would not have added significant data to the always stable clinical picture. Similar considerations apply to the use of endoscopic ultrasonography [16-18].

		In the family group in analysis, two brothers with hyperenzymemia had pancreatic cysts, while a third brother had only hepatic and renal cysts. Of two siblings without hyperenzymemia, one had multiple cysts in the pancreas, kidney, and liver, while the second died due to pancreas (and breast) cancer at the age of 79 years. The significance of these associations, as well as the appearance of colon adenocarcinoma in our patient, at the present time is not clear.

		The patients must be followed for a period of at least one year before labeling their pancreatic hyperenzymemia as benign, because in 1-2% of cases of pancreatic cancer, asymptomatic pancreatic hyperenzymemia can be an early witnessed laboratory abnormality, especially in elderly age group [19,20].

		In adulthood, the prevalence of incidentally found pancreatic cystic lesions is high (between 2.6% and 19.6%) [21-24]. They are heterogeneous and include malignant, benign, and pre-malignant lesions, capable of evolving into invasive carcinoma over time. The differential diagnosis between intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, mucinous cystoadenoma and serous cystoadenoma could be made by endoscopic ultrasonography fine needle aspiration or even better with endoscopic ultrasonography through-the-needle microforceps biopsy [25], with the determination of intracystic glucose concentration, having been found to be more sensitive than the concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen [24]; however, this investigation is not carried out in our hospital.

		It should be considered that a long-lasting CAPH, defined as benign, should be studied in depth at least with MRCP for the possibility, among others, of finding intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in small pancreatic cystic formations [12,14,26].

		Also for this reason, the follow-up of hyperenzymemia must be continued for at least two years [27].

		In our patient, after the end of chemotherapy for the colon adenocarcinoma, the fluctuations of lipase and amylase remained unchanged.

		The ethiology of Gullo’s syndrome remains unknown. It is known that there is a defect in the basolateral surface of the acinar cells that causes the increased secretion of pancreatic enzymes into the blood or the effect of secretin in the pancreatic duct of Wirsung [2].

		Regarding the study of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations and serine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and serine protease 1 (PSSR1) genes, no significant differences compared to the general population have been described in benign familial hyperenzymemia [28-30].

		The prevalence of CAPH among subjects who underwent blood tests for multiple pancreatic serum enzymes was 2% in a retrospective cross-sectional observational study in a large sample of the general Italian population [31].

		In another Italian case series relating to 125,483 total accesses registered in a University Emergency Department [32], a prevalence of benign pancreatic hyperenzymemia equal to 0.09% cases for every 100,000 accesses was found.

		Unlike the very extensive Italian cases, reports in other countries are limited. In literature, few cases are reported in Japan [4,11], Belgium [14], USA [17,33], India [34], Taiwan [35], Brazil [36], Austria [37], Poland [38], Ukraine [39], Australia [40], Spain [41,42], Venezuela [43], Morocco [44], and Germany [45].

		The most recent Italian case series was published in December 2019 [46].

		Pancreatic hyperenzymemia can appear at almost every age: the ratio of affected men and women is 1.5:1. It is a rare finding in children: only a few sporadic cases have been described in the literature [41,47-49].

		The coexistence of hyperenzymemia in siblings is diagnostic for familial form of CAPH, which has an incidence between 4% and 39% in the series described in the literature [3,8,10,12,39,43,50].

		Conclusion

		In the family group here described, the long follow-up between 31 and 40 years confirms the benignity of the enzymatic anomaly regarding pancreatic diseases. This familial association supports the concept of a genetic basis underlying pancreatic enzyme abnormalities, despite the fact that so far no correlations have been found with the genetic mutations studied.

		
			Key points

				The increase in serum amylase and/or lipase affects the extension of first-level laboratory and instrumental investigations aimed at confirming the presence of a pancreatic pathology.
	Pancreatic hyperenzymemia may be secondary to extra-pancreatic diseases.
	The periodic, but persistent over time, fluctuations of these enzymes with frequent return to normalization can result in chronic pancreatic hyperenzymemia (Gullo’s Syndrome), which is considered in most cases to be a benign enzymatic anomaly.
	Gullo’s Syndrome remains a diagnosis by exclusion: from the first finding of hyperenzymemia it is necessary to wait two years before confirming it.
	In order to reach the diagnosis of CAPH, “second level” radiological investigations (MRCP, endoscopic ultrasonography) are necessary to rule out pancreatic anomalies (especially) of an anatomical type.
	The presence of this anomaly in relatives is an indicative element to confirm the diagnosis and its benignity.


		

		Consent to publication

		The consent to publication was obtained from the patient here described.

		


		Funding

		This article has been published without the support of sponsors.

		Conflicts of interests

		The authors declare they have no competing financial interests concerning the topics of this article.

		ORCiD

		Mauro Turrin: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2100-2104

		Lucia Fornasiero: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1138-8613

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