Changes in serum amylase isoenzymes in congenital biliary dilatation

Objective To investigate the changes of amylase isoenzymes in the serum of congenital biliary dilatation (CBD). Methods The preoperative, postoperative serum and intraoperative bile from 21 children with CBD were studied. Serum from 14 normal children and 7 adults with acute pancreatitis were served as control group. Electrophoresis in discontinuous buffer system was applied for the presenting patterns and fractions of the pancreatic amylase isoenzymes. Results The changes of pancreatic amylase (P) isoenzymes in preoperative serum and bile were similar, manifesting P1-P5 without predominant fraction, while in normal controls, there were only P1 and P2. These changes in CBD different from those of acute pancreatitis, which presented predominant P2 , less common P4, and no P5. After operation, these abnormal changes in CBD disappeared. Conclusions There are remarkable changes in serum amylase isoenzymes from CBD . These changes verify the existence of cholangiovenous reflux in cases with CBD and may be of diagnostic significance of pancreaticobiliary confluence abnormality.