carboxypeptidase-b and Chronic-Disease

Human pancreas-specific protein (PASP) has been characterized previously as a serum marker for pancreatitis. It was then identified as pancreatic procarboxypeptidase B (PCB). The aim of the present study was to verify the usefulness of PASP (PCB) as a serum marker in patients with acute (n = 20) and chronic (n = 12) pancreatitis and in those following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) (n = 44). Serum PASP values were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, with a range of normal values between 15 and 111 ng/ml. Between April 1992 and September 1992, 20 subjects (19-86 years of age) with acute pancreatitis (alcoholic, 8; biliary, 8; other, 4) were studied. We found edematous pancreatitis in 17 cases and severe hemorrhagic pancreatitis in three cases. At admission, peak levels of PASP (average value, 1,976 +/- 329 ng/ml), pancreatic isoamylase (942 +/- 151 U/L) and lipase (2,946 +/- 534 U/L) were detected in 15 of 20, 16 of 20, and 12 of 20 cases, respectively. The etiology of the pancreatitis had no influence on the PASP values. Furthermore, 10 patients with alcoholic and two patients with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis (29-67 years of age) were studied. The average peak level of PASP was 1,229 +/- 434 ng/ml. In this group, PASP paralleled the time course of amylase and lipase. Maximal PASP, amylase, and lipase levels were found in 11 of 12, nine of 12, and five of 12 patients, respectively, on the day of admission. ERCP was performed in 44 patients (36-87 years of age), demonstrating common bile duct stones in 16 and bile or pancreatic ductal tumors in 15 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Carboxypeptidase B; Carboxypeptidases; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Chronic Disease; Enzyme Precursors; Female; Humans; Isoamylase; Lipase; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Proteins

Pancreas-specific protein (PASP) was compared with serum amylase in 95 episodes of acute pancreatitis with the diagnoses supported by elevated amylase levels. The etiology was typical for Scandinavian countries, with alcohol as the predominant factor, followed by cholelithiasis. PASP values were clearly raised in all patients, except in three cases found to have high salivary-type amylase levels, and one patient with recurrent alcohol pancreatitis. The rise of PASP levels were in general more pronounced than the corresponding amylase elevations, especially in severe pancreatitis. The elevations were generally parallel for the two analytes, but in 41% of the cases PASP levels remained elevated 2-11 days longer than the corresponding amylase levels. PASP was, however, eliminated from the circulation at a rate comparable to that of amylase. The serum range of PASP for 259 healthy subjects was 15-111 micrograms/L with 95% of the values within 16-98 micrograms/L. The upper reference level was set at 100 micrograms/L. PASP levels were also determined for 291 patients with disorders other than acute pancreatitis. Serum levels in patients with renal insufficiency (n = 12), primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 9), and diabetes mellitus (n = 17) were equal to those in healthy subjects. Eight patients of 173 with acute abdominal disorders and no evidence of pancreatitis had elevated PASP levels as well as 4 patients with prostatic carcinoma (n = 28) and 2 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (n = 16). PASP values were low in chronic painful pancreatitis (n = 15) and pancreatic cancer (n = 11).

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Amylases; Biomarkers; Carboxypeptidase B; Carboxypeptidases; Chronic Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proteins