Immunoreactive trypsin and pancreatic isoamylase activity in serum of patients with chronic renal failure or hepatic cirrhosis.

In 121 patients with either liver cirrhosis or chronic renal failure, abnormal values for the concentrations of two pancreatic enzymes in serum were a frequent finding. In renal insufficiency a decreased rate of enzyme elimination is the most likely cause of the above-normal values we observed for serum immunoreactive trypsin and pancreatic isoamylase activity. As for patients with liver cirrhosis, we believe that changes in entrance rates into the blood--i.e., an affected pancreas--is a likely explanation of the abnormally high values we often found for these serum enzymes.