Serum isoamylases in chronic pancreatitis.

Serum isoamylases were quantitated separately in 15 patients with chronic pancreatitis. The mean activity of pancreatic isoamylase was 7 U/1 in the patients as compared to 88 U/1 in healtly controls, 8 of the patients completely lacked pancreatic isoamylase and the mean activity in the other was 15 U/1. Salivary isoamylase activities were moderately increased in the patients. Determination of the serum pancreatic isoamylase is a simple screening procedure that should be useful in the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.