Activity of cobalt-activated acylase and Australia antigen (HBAg) in children suffering from viral hepatitis.

Activity of Coiactivated acylase in the serum was investigated in 120 children aged 3 months to 15 years, divided into five age groups, suffering from viral hepatitis (VH). No differences were found in the mean values of acylase activity between the ages of 3 months and 6 years, and progressively rising values in older age groups. Statistical analysis showed significance of the difference between the youngest age group and the group of children aged 12-15 years. A study of the dynamics of acylase activity in the course of the disease in 20 children showed rapidly declining values of this enzyme activity. Presence of HBAg in the serum was demonstrated in 12 children, in whom levels of acylase activity in the serum were similar to those in children without HB antigenemia, but the small number of cases examined does not permit conclusions. Acylase activity increases with age. This enzyme activity was observed in the serum of 96%, and HBAg in 10% of the examined children.