Changes in amylase, hepatic enzymes and bilirubin in serum upon initiation of alcohol abstinence.

The serum levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GT), and pancreatic isoamylase were determined in 156 alcohol addicts during the first 9 days upon initiation of alcohol abstinence. During this period decreasing activities were recorded for S-bilirubin and S-ASAT but patients possessing moderatly increased serum activity of GT showed no decrease. Increased activities of S-ASAT and S-GT were still frequently seen at the end of the observation period. For S-pancreatic isoamylase, both decreases and increases from initial activities were frequently found. In patients with low activities initially, the S-pancreatic isoamylase activity increased during the observation period and thus, pathologically increased activities were recorded more often 9 days after alcohol withdrawal than on arrival at the hospital.