ABSTRACT
Abstract: Background: Oral lichen planus is a potentially malignant disorder. One of the malignant transformation markers is cancer stem cells. One of the proposed marker for the detection of cancer stem cells's in head and neck cancer is aldehyde dehydrogenase. Recently it is shown that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 expression in tissue samples is associated with oral lichen planus malignant transformation. Objective: This study evaluates salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 in oral lichen planus. Method: Thirty patients and 30 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited. Oral lichen planus was diagnosed based on the modified World Health Organization criteria. Subjects in the case group were divided into reticular and non-reticular forms. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected at 10-12 AM. Saliva concentrations of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 were measured by ELISA. Results: The differences between aldehyde dehydrogenase levels in the oral lichen planus group compared with the control group were not significant but aldehyde dehydrogenase in non-reticular oral lichen planus was significantly higher than that of the reticular form. Limitations of the study: This is a cross-sectional study, thus longitudinal studies in oral lichen planus may present similar or different results. Conclusions: The mechanism of malignant transformation in oral lichen planus is not defined. Previous analyses revealed that the aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 expression is significantly correlated with increased risk of transformation. This finding is consistent with our results because in the erosive and ulcerative forms of oral lichen planus, which have an increased risk of transformation, salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 was overexpressed. A higher salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase level in non-reticular oral lichen planus can be a defensive mechanism against higher oxidative stress in these groups. Aldehyde dehydrogenase may be one of the malignant transformation markers in oral lichen planus. Further studies are needed for introducing aldehyde dehydrogenase as a prognostic indicator in certain lesions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Saliva/enzymology , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic , Lichen Planus, Oral/enzymology , Retinal Dehydrogenase/analysis , Isoenzymes/analysis , Biomarkers/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Lichen Planus, Oral/complicationsABSTRACT
La Fosfatasa Alcalina Ósea (FAO) es una isoforma de la Fosfatasa Alcalina (FAL). La medición de su actividad en saliva es una medida indirecta del proceso de formación ósea, más sensible y específica que la FAL. La catepsina K es la principal colagenasa del proceso de resorción ósea, es capaz de degradar al colágeno tipo I en varios sitios dando lugar a pequeños péptidos N- y C- terminales. El telopéptido C-terminal (CTx) es el marcador más sensible y específico en el aumento de la resorción ósea, ya que el colágeno tipo I constituye más del 90 por ciento de la matriz orgánica del hueso...
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomarkers , Bone Remodeling/physiology , Periodontal Diseases/physiopathology , Cathepsin K/physiology , Periodontal Diseases/enzymology , Periodontal Diseases/immunology , Alkaline Phosphatase/analysis , Bone Matrix/physiology , Bone Resorption/physiopathology , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between urease and arginine deiminase system (ADS) activities and dental caries through a cross-sectional study. Material and Methods: Urease and ADS activities were measured in saliva and plaque samples from 10 caries-free subjects and 13 caries-active. Urease activity was obtained from the ammonia produced by incubation of plaque and saliva samples in urea. ADS activity was obtained from the ammonia generated by the arginine-HCl and Tris-maleate buffer. Specific activity was defined as micromoles of ammonia per minute per milligram of protein. Shapiro-Wilk statistical test was used to analyze the distribution of the data, and Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the significance of the data. Results: The specific urease activity in saliva and plaque was significantly higher in individuals with low DMFT scores. ADS activity in saliva (6.050 vs 1.350, p=0.0154) and plaque (8.830 vs 1.210, p=0.025) was also higher in individuals with low DMFT scores. Conclusions: Caries-free subjects had a higher ammonia generation activity by urease and arginine deiminase system for both saliva and plaque samples than low caries-active subjects. High levels of alkali production in oral environment were related to caries-free subjects. .
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Dental Caries/enzymology , Dental Plaque/enzymology , Hydrolases/analysis , Saliva/enzymology , Urease/analysis , Alkalies/metabolism , Ammonia/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , DMF Index , Dental Plaque/chemistry , Reference Values , Risk Factors , Saliva/chemistry , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Background: Leukemia is a fatal disease. The oral manifestations of the leukemias occur early in the course of the disease and these oral features can at times act as a diagnostic indicator. Saliva has been used as a diagnostic aid in a number of systemic diseases. Materials and Methods: In our study, samples of unstimulated saliva of 30 leukemia patients who were not on chemotherapy were collected and analyzed for salivary amylase and total protein. The oral manifestations and radiographic changes (OPG) were recorded. The correlation between the oral manifestations and the salivary components (salivary amylase and total protein) was assessed for prognostic significance. Results: In the present study when the mean values of salivary amylase (1280±754 U/ml) and total protein (647.2±320.7 mg%) were compared with that in control subjects. There was a statistically significant difference for amylase levels (P<.05). On intraoral examination the study subjects showed pallor, gingivitis, gingival enlargement, petechiae, and ecchymosis. On the OPG, the radiographic features included generalized rarefaction of bone (20%), thinning of lamina dura (3.4%), generalized alveolar crest bone resorption (30%), thinning of walls of alveolar crypts (6.7%), besides others, e.g., periapical abscess (10%). Conclusions: The saliva of leukemic patients demonstrated obvious changes in composition. A rise in salivary amylase and total protein levels was evident, with the increase in amylase levels being statistically significant.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alveolar Bone Loss/etiology , Alveolar Bone Loss/diagnostic imaging , Amylases/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Ecchymosis/etiology , Female , Gingival Hypertrophy/etiology , Gingivitis/etiology , Humans , Jaw Diseases/etiology , Jaw Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Leukemia/complications , Leukemia/metabolism , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/complications , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/complications , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/complications , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Diseases/etiology , Periapical Abscess/etiology , Periapical Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism , Purpura/etiology , Radiography, Panoramic , Saliva/enzymology , Salivary Proteins and Peptides/analysis , Young AdultABSTRACT
O aumento da expressão das metaloproteinases da matriz extracelular (MPM) é considerado um importante fator no desenvolvimento da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os níveis de expressão da MPM-2 e MPM-9 na saliva de pacientes com DPOC em comparação com indivíduos saudáveis, verificando a viabilidade de usar a saliva para a caracterização de biomarcadores específicos em DPOC. Foram selecionados pacientes com DPOC (n=16) e controles saudáveis (n=9). Em ambos os grupos foram realizados teste espirométrico e obtidas amostras de saliva de cada indivíduo. Os níveis de MPM-2 e MPM-9 na saliva foram determinados pela técnica Westernblot. A MPM-2 e a MPM-9 foram significativamente maiores em pacientes com DPOC do que no grupo de indivíduos saudáveis. Foi encontrada moderada correlação negativa entre a concentração de MPM-2 e o volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (r= -0,582, p=0,014) em pacientes com DPOC. Estes resultados abrem novas perspectivas para o estudo específico de biomarcadores na saliva para predizer e monitorar a obstrução ao fluxo aéreo em pacientes com DPOC...
The increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) is considered a key factor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed at assessing expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in saliva from patients with COPD, comparing them to those of healthy subjects, thus assessing the feasibility of characterizing specific biomarkers for COPD. Patients with COPD (n=16) and healthy controls (n=9) were selected; both groups submitted to spirometry and to collection of saliva samples. Saliva levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined by Western blot. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in COPD patients than in control subjects. In COPD patients, a moderate, negative correlation was found between MMP-2 concentration and forced expiatory volume at the first second (r= -0.582; p=0.014). These findings open new perspectives to study specific biomarkers in saliva to predict and monitor airway obstruction in COPD patients...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis , Biomarkers , Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/analysis , /analysis , Spirometry , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Saliva is increasingly being used as a specimen for systemic disease as well as for oral health status. Especially, salivary amylase has been studied as an excellent index for psychological stress. Authors evaluated the measurement of salivary amylase activities collected by Salivettes (Sarstedt, Germany). METHODS: Saliva specimens were collected from 13 healthy adults between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Participants were asked to gently chew tampons of Salivettes for 1 min. Immediately after collection, all specimens were stored frozen. On the day of testing, they were centrifuged after thawing and diluted with distilled water. Amylase was measured by Dimension RxL Max (Dade Behring Inc., USA). We evaluated precision, linearity, and recovery rate of Salivette. Amylase activities between collection of saliva by Salivette and passive drool were compared, and also the changes of amylase by the storage temperature were evaluated. RESULTS: Intra-run CVs for three levels of amylase were excellent. Between-day CVs and total CVs were good only for mid and high levels. A good linear relationship was found at all diluted levels. Dosing Salivettes with 2 mL, 1.5 mL, and 1 mL yielded sample recovery 85.5+/-2.4%, 82.4+/-1.5%, and 72.2+/-3.1%, respectively and amylase recovery 78.9+/-10.9%, 74.1+/-13.7%, and 37.3+/-26.9%, respectively. Amylase by Salivette and passive drool were correlated well (r=0.757), although they showed a significant difference. Amylase activity was not affected by the storage temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of salivary amylase using Salivette could be a useful test having good intra-run CVs and linearity. More than 1.5 mL of saliva would be needed to have more than 70% recovery of Salivette.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Amylases/analysis , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Saliva/enzymology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Specimen Handling/instrumentation , Stress, Psychological , TemperatureABSTRACT
An elderly lady with amylase-rich ascites is presented, whose isoenzyme estimation revealed salivary type amylase. Tumour hyperamylasemia is an important group among the nonpancreatic causes of elevated amylase.
Subject(s)
Amylases/metabolism , Ascites/diagnosis , Ascitic Fluid/enzymology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Hyperamylasemia/diagnosis , Isoenzymes/metabolism , Middle Aged , Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to obtain experimental evidence that phlebotomine saliva is actually ingested during the carbohydrate ingestion phase (before and after blood digestion). The ingestion of carbohydrate was simulated as it occurs in the field by offering the insects balls of cotton soaked in sucrose, sucrose crystals or orange juice cells. The results obtained here showed that ingestion occurred under each condition investigated, as indicated by the presence of apyrase, an enzyme used as a marker to detect saliva in the insect gut and/or carbohydrate sources. Saliva ingestion by phlebotomine during the carbohydrate ingestion phase is important to explain how it could promote starch digestion and to trigger Leishmania promastigotes to follow a differentiation pathway as proposed previously by some authors.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Apyrase/analysis , Carbohydrates , Diptera/physiology , Eating/physiology , Saliva/physiology , Biomarkers/analysis , Calorimetry , Phosphates/analysis , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
To investigate the effect of smoking and alcohol on serum, saliva, and urine total sialic acid [TSA] levels, and on serum gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] enzyme activities. Serum, urine and saliva samples obtained from smokers, drinkers, and nonsmokers-nondrinkers [control] subjects. Total sialic acid was measured with the Warren's colorimetric method, modified by Ponnio et al. The study was performed at the Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry, University of Kahramamaras Sutcu Imam, Turkey, in 2002. Serum and saliva TSA levels of alcohol drinkers and serum TSA levels of smokers were higher than those in control subjects. Urine TSA levels were much higher in alcohol drinkers than those in healthy subjects and smokers. Serum GGT activities were high in smokers and alcohol drinkers and there was no statistically significant difference in serum AST levels between smokers and non-smokers and also serum AST levels were higher in alcohol drinkers than those in control subjects and smokers. Serum ALT levels were higher in smokers and alcohol drinkers than those in controls. Our results indicate that serum TSA were affected by, and possibly related to, smoking, and that serum GGT, AST, ALT and serum TSA can be used as a marker for monitoring of alcohol abuse. Our study indicate that urine, and saliva TSA can be used as non-invasive markers for alcohol abuse. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the concentrations of TSA on a greater number of serum, saliva, and urine samples from smokers and drinkers
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Smoking/blood , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Saliva/enzymology , Biomarkers , Reference Values , N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/urineABSTRACT
This research included a study of alpha-amylase isoenzymes in serum and saliva in diabetes mellitus, diabetic group were 100 samples and 80 samples as control group, their ages between [5-55] years. Three methods of isolation for alpha-amylase isoenzymes were studied in this research [gel filtration, anion exchange chromatography and electrophoresis]. By using gel filtration method for isolation alphaamylase isoenzymes in normal serum and saliva, the result of this isolation indicated that serum alpha-amylase [total alpha-amylase] was contained seven isoenzymes while in salivary alpha-amylase there were eight isoenzymes. Eleven isoenzymes for normal and abnormal total serum amylase and six isoenzymes for normal and abnormal salivary amylase were isolated by using anion exchange chromatography. By using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [PAGE], two or more bands and four bands were observed in normal serum and saliva respectively but seven or more bands and six bands were obtained from abnormal serum and saliva respectively
Subject(s)
Humans , alpha-Amylases/blood , Isoenzymes , Diabetes Mellitus/enzymology , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To research the value of polymorphism of salivary esterase(Set) in paternity and personal identification.@*METHODS@#Phenotype and genotype of human salivary esterase were detected in 114 liquid saliva samples from the Chinese population by disc electrophoresis and fast blue RR staining assay.@*RESULTS@#The frequency of Set type was F 22.81%, FS 50.88%, S2 6.31%. The estimated gene frequency of SetF was 0.4825 and SetS was 0.5175. The PE was 0.1875 and the DP was 0.6199.@*CONCLUSION@#Polymorphism of salivary esterase (Set) was practical in paternity and personal identification.
Subject(s)
Humans , Esterases/genetics , Forensic Anthropology/methods , Gene Frequency , Paternity , Polymorphism, Genetic , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
Em razäo do aumento da ocorrência de fluorose dentária e o papel importante que a saliva desempenha na saúde bucal e considerando que existem relatos da influência "in vitro" do flúor sobre algumas enzimas presentes na saliva, decidimos examinar possíveis alteraçöes em alguns parâmetros salivares de adolescentes portadores de fluorose dentária. Participaram da pesquisa 72 adolescentes de ambos os sexos de uma escola pública de Vitória-ES uma cidade litorânea com temperatura média anual de 24,2ºC. Os adolescentes foram examinados clinicamente para verificar-se o grau de fluorose (TSIF), o CPOD, o índice de placa, e o índice gengival. Em uma outra oportunidade, foi avaliado o fluxo salivar, o pH e a capacidade tampäo da saliva. Amostras de saliva foram coletadas, mantidas em gelo seco e armazenadas em freezer a - 80ºC. No laboratório, foram analisadas a atividade da amilase e da peroxidase, a concentraçäo da proteína, ácido siálico, K, P, Ca, Na, Mg e F na saliva...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Fluorosis, Dental , Saliva/enzymology , Oral HealthABSTRACT
O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o perfil da amilase salivar em crianças obesas. Participaram do estudo 58 crianças, das quais 29 foram identificadas como obesas, constituindo o grupo obesidade e 29 foram classificadas como näo-obesas, constituindo o grupo controle. Os parâmetros para a escolha dos dois grupos estudados foram a relaçäo peso/estatura do National Center for Health Statistics e a medida da prega cutânea do tríceps. As crianças do grupo obesidade apresentaram percentis iguais ou maiores do que 90, para ambas as curvas. A saliva foi colhida após estímulo químico com suco de limäo, por meio de técnica padronizada. No material colhido determinou-se o peso da saliva secretada, a concentraçäo e a produçäo total da amilase salivar em cinco minutos. Os resultados demonstraram que, entre as crianças controles a concentraçäo e a produçäo total da amilase foram significativamente maiores no sexo masculino comparados ao sexo feminino. Entre as crianças obesas, as do sexo masculino apresentaram secreçäo salivar significativamente maior que as do sexo feminino. As crianças obesas do sexo masculino apresentaram concentraçäo de amilase salivar significativamente menor em relaçäo aos controles, näo se observando o mesmo padräo entre as obesas do sexo feminino. A produçäo total da amilase salivar näo apresentou nível diminuído entre os meninos obesos, sugerindo que a taxa diminuída da concentraçäo da enzima, no obeso, é compensada pela maior secreçäo salivar.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Amylases/metabolism , Obesity/metabolism , Saliva/enzymology , Saliva/metabolismABSTRACT
Se investigó la presencia de protozoarios en la cavidad bucal de 50 individuos adultos, de ambos sexos, que concurrieron al Servicio Asistencial de Parasitología del Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Rosario. Los pacientes relataron buenos hábitos de cepillado dental y ausencia de patologías bucales. El objetivo fue identificar Entamoeba gingivalis y Trichomonas tenax y conocer sus prevalencias en nuestro medio. De cada una se obtuvo una muestra de saliva y otra de placa y sarro dental, para la detección de estos protozoos por microscopia directa en 100 x y 400 x aumentos. Además se determinó: pH, inmunoglobina A y amilasa salival. El 50 por ciento de los pacientes fueron positivos: 20 estuvieron monoparasitados con E. gingivalis, 1 con T. tenax y 4 presentaron ambos protozoos. La frecuencia de E. gingivalis en la población estudiada fue 48 por ciento y 10 por ciento para T. tenax, predominando los hallazgos de estos microorganismos en la muestra de placa y sarro dental. La presencia de protozoos orales fue independiente del valor de amilasa salival. El número de pacientes parasitados fue mayor cuando la concentración de Inmunoglobulina A salival fue inferior al rango normal y a pH salival ligeramente ácido. Este trabajo preliminar se completará en una segunda etapa con la búsqueda de estos agentes en una población adulta que presente patologías bucales
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Entamoeba/isolation & purification , Saliva/parasitology , Trichomonas/isolation & purification , Dental Calculus/parasitology , Oral Health , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
Se obtuvieron muestras de saliva de 59 personas sanas en edades comprendidas entre 8 y 24 años. La determinación de la concentración de lisozima se efectuó por los métodos microbiológicos e inmunológico, de forma absoluta en el primero y de forma relativa en el segundo. El coeficiente de corelación entre ambos métodos fue de r=0,752. No hubo diferencia significativa en la concentración de lisozima entre los diferentes grupos de edades en ambos métodos. Las variaciones intraclase fueron marcadas, pero se observó una tendencia a la disminución de las variaciones con el aumento de la edad. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que es dificil, si se parte sólo de la valoración de la concentración de lisozima, llegar a conclusiones sobre el estado de inmunidad local en la cavidad bucal, sobre todo en la infancia, donde ocurren grandes variaciones individuales
Subject(s)
Muramidase/isolation & purification , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
A hiperamilasemia após a colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada ocorre em 25 a 50% dos casos. Na tentativa de explicar esse aumento foram estudados, através de endoscopia digestiva alta, 107 pacientes com suspeita de doença esofagogástrica, determinando a atividade da amilase antes e após o procedimento. Em 33% dos casos houve aumento da atividade da enzima, sugerindo, entäo, ser esta dependente de seu componente salivar
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Amylases/analysis , Endoscopy, Digestive System/adverse effects , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/adverse effects , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
Total serum amylase activity, its isoenzymes and pancreatic to salivary amylase (P/S) ratio were studied in 40 normal subjects and 47 patients with renal failure, 32 with benign and 15 with malignant conditions. Amylase to creatinine clearance (Cam/Ccr) was studied in 17 normals and 14 patients with renal failure, 10 benign and 4 with malignant diseases. Total amylase activity, and pancreatic and salivary fractions were found to be increased by about 3.4 times the normal in both benign and malignant conditions producing renal failure though the P/S ratio was within the normal range. However, the increase in the urea and creatinine levels in patients could not be related to the increase in serum total amylase. Besides the Cam/Ccr ratio was elevated in patients with both benign and malignant conditions producing renal insufficiency whereas the Cam and Ccr were individually found to be decreased. Why patients with chronic renal failure in both conditions without clinical evidence of pancreatitis should have elevated Cam/Ccr ratio is not clear.
Subject(s)
Amylases/blood , Humans , Kidney Diseases/enzymology , Neoplasms/complications , Pancreas/enzymology , Saliva/enzymologyABSTRACT
Serum levels of total amylase, its pancreatic fraction (P), salivary fraction (S), and the ratio of pancreatic to salivary fraction (P/S) were determined in 52 cases of histologically proved testicular germ cell tumours and 33 healthy controls. Total serum amylase remained unchanged, but the salivary fraction had a lower mean value. P/S ratio and the pancreatic fraction were significantly elevated in both seminomatous and non- seminomatous tumours. The ratio was more frequently raised in non-seminomatous (100%) as compared to seminomatous (66.67%) tumors. Following treatment there was no appreciable fall in P/S ratio in non-seminomatous tumors whereas in seminomas there was a slight increase in the ratio. The pancreatic fraction showed a transient fall in seminomatous but not in non-seminomatous tumors following treatment. The pancreatic fraction of amylase and the P/S ratio may help in the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumor but does not appear to be of use in assessment of prognosis or monitoring the course of the disease during treatment.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Amylases/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreas/enzymology , Saliva/enzymology , Testicular Neoplasms/enzymologyABSTRACT
Os autores apresentam um estudo sobre a atividade enzimática da deidrogenase lática (DHL) no soro e na saliva das glândulas parótidas direita e esquerda, em 32 pacientes considerados clinicamente normais. Esses individuos, foram divididos em grupos quanto ao sexo e faixa etária. Utilizaram-se kits optimizados com leitura no espectrofotômetro Zeiss U. V. Teste. O tempo de leitura na saliva foi modificado devido a baixa concentraçäo de enzima DHL na mesma
Subject(s)
Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Humans , Male , Female , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Saliva/enzymology , Age Factors , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
El objetivo del presente trabajo fué investigar la utilidad de la determinación de lipasa e isoamilasas en el diagnóstico de pancreatitis aguda, compárandolas con la de amilasa y si la evaluación de estas enzimas permite el diagnóstico clínicos diferencial entre pancreatitis aguda y patología biliar aguda sin lesión pancreática. Se estudiaron tres grupos de pacientes. a) Control: 60 pacientes sin enfermedades digestivas. b) Pancreatitis aguda: 60 pacientes, en las que el diagnóstico fue hecho en base al cuadro clínico, análisis de laboratorio, ecografia y T. C. em 24 (40%), en las restantes 36(60%), se obtuvo además confirmación quirúrgica, c) Patología biliar aguda sin daño macroscópico pancreático, 30 pacientes en los que el diagnóstico se hizo de acuerdo al cuadro clínico, análisis de laboratorio y ecografia en 4 (13,3%) mientras que en los restantes 26(86,6%) se obtuvo confirmación quirúrgica, dentro de la semana de haber comenzado el cuadro clínico. En todos los pacientes se determinaram: amilasa en suero y orina, lipasa e isoamilasas total, pancreática y salival en suero. En el grupo con pancreatitis aguda, la sensibilidad diagnóstica fue: isoamilasa pancreática 95,5%, lipasa 95%, amilasa sérica total 93,3%, amilasuria 90%, amilasemia 78,3%. En el grupo de patología aguda biliar, sin daño pancreático, se encontraron también un número elevado de valores de las enzimas: isoamilasa pancreática 83,3%, amilasa sérica total 73,3%, amilasuria 66,6% lipasemia 63,3% amilasemia 53,3%..