Serum isoamylases in acute and chronic liver disease.

Serum activities of pancreatic and salivary isoamylases were evaluated in 44 patients with liver disease. In 20 patients with acute hepatitis no significant changes of both isoamylases were observed whereas liver cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis (n = 24) were associated with significantly increased pancreatic isoamylase activities as compared to the control group. The significantly positive correlation between pancreatic isoamylase and the intestinal isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase in serum may indicate a similarity in the metabolic clearances of both enzymes. We suggest that decreased clearance of pancreatic isoamylase may contribute to hyperamylasemia found in 42% of our patients with chronic liver disease.