Elastase levels during bile-induced pancreatitis in dogs determined by radioimmunoassay.

The changes in elastase levels were studied in the plasma before and after bile-induced pancreatitis. Although the anylase and lipase levels increased markedly, there was no significant increase in the plasma elastase levels, as measured by enzymatic assay. On the other hand, the elastase levels of the blood in the femoral and pancreatic veins as measured by radioimmunoassay, increased to about ten times above the control levels. Similarly, in pancreatitis, large amounts of elastase, determined by radioimmunoassay, was found in the ascitic fluid. At that time, no elastase activity could be determined in the ascitic fluid. In this study, it is suggested that circulating inhibitors interfere with the determination of elastase enzymatic activity but do not interfere with the radioimmunoassay of elastase.