Human urinary amylolytic enzymes in acute hepatitis.

Using paper eletrophoresis two amylolytic enzymes in human urine were demonstrated. A main peak was shown in the gamma globulin zone in normal urine and a second minor peak, in contrast to earlier findings, in the beta globulin zone. The organic source of the minor peak is probably in the liver. Urines from cases of acute hepatitis were studied in the same way and showed that the electrophoretic beta peak was raised in acute hepatitis, also pointing to a possible origin in the liver. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.