Electrophoretic assays of amylase isoenzymes and isoforms.

Electrophoretic methods provide an effective means for analysis of amylase isoenzymes and isoforms. A wide variety of such techniques have been developed and reflect different applications and analytic objectives of different investigators. Virtually all of the available clinical data on amylase isoenzymes and isoforms has resulted from application of these methods. Recent identification of selective amylase inhibitors and of monoclonal antibodies to amylase isoenzymes holds promise of development of rapid routine clinical assays for amylase isoenzymes. Electrophoretic methods will have an important role in validating these new assays. Furthermore, at the present time, electrophoretic methods provide the best approach for analyzing isoforms of the pancreatic and salivary isoenzymes. This may be clinically important in patients with tumors, pancreatic pseudocysts, or macroamylasemia. Further clinical experience is needed to define the roles of the various assays that are now available for the estimation of amylase isoenzymes and isoforms in human samples.