Determination of Immunoreactive Trypsin, Pancreatic Elastase and Chymotrypsin in Extracts of Human Feces and Ileostomy Drainage

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Abstract
The total daily amount of extractable cationic trypsin, chymotrypsin and pancreatic elastase 2 in feces and ileostomy fluids was studied in normal individuals and healthy colectomized subjects. Quantitation was performed using immunological assays with polyethylene glycol as a fecal marker. The extractable amount of each of these enzymes in the feces of normal individuals was < 1 mg/24 h. However, in fecal extracts from antibiotic-treated normal individuals a 100-fold increase in immunoreactive cationic trypsin was observed, while chymotrypsin and elastase 2 were only 2- to 3-fold higher. In extracts from ileostomy fluids, cationic trypsin, elastase and chymotrypsin all showed mean values in the order of 50-200 mg/24 h. The characterization of the immunoreactivity of pancreatic proteases showed no qualitative differences when measured in duodenal juice or fecal and ileostomy extracts.