CHANGES IN SERUM PANCREATIC-ENZYMES DURING 2 MONTHS ABSTINENCE IN ASYMPTOMATIC CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 77  (9) , 625-629
Abstract
To elucidate the injurious effects of alcohol on the human pancreas, serum pancreatic enzymes were followed for the first 2 mo. of abstinence in 31 asymptomatic alcoholics. Sequential declines of serum enzymes were observed in immunoreactive human pancreatic elastase 1 and trypsin (IRE and IRT) and .gamma.-glutamyl transpeptidase (.gamma.-GTP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) during abstinence. The incidence of abnormally high enzyme activities found initially changed by the end of 2 mo. of abstinence as follows: from 55 to 6% for IRE, from 25 to 0% for IRT, from 3 to 6% for amylase, from 76 to 22% for .gamma.-GTP, from 69 to 39% for CPK, from 55 to 12% for GOT and from 38 to 12% for GPT, respectively. Excessive intake of alcohol enhanced the escape of the enzymes from the pancreas into the serum, probably altering membrane permeability or cellular metabolism of the pancreas, a direct toxic effect of alcohol.

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