Isozyme Variations of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Naphthyl Amidase in Biliary and Gastrointestinal Disease

Abstract

Electrophoretic variations of serum alkaline phosphatase and naphthyl amidase (leucine aminopeptidase or LAP) have been studied in hospitalized patients with biliary disease, gastrointestinal disease, and a variety of other diseases. All hospitalized patients have very low levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase as compared to healthy, mobile subjects. It is suggested that the complex secretion physiology of the intestinal alkaline phosphatase, such as its dependence on blood groups and dietary factors, places severe restrictions on its applicability in clinical diagnosis. Simultaneous increase of the liver alkaline phosphatase and a specific LAP component (B) seems to be a reliable indication of biliary disease.

Key-words:

• Liver
• gastrointestinal diseases
• biliary tract diseases
• liver cirrhosis
• alkaline
• phosphatase
• enzyme tests
• isozymes