All issues > Volume 27(12); 1984

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1984;27(12):1185-1191. Published online December 31, 1984.

Decrease Serum Amylase Activity in Acutely Starvated Children with Epidemic Enephalitis.

Kyung Yong Huh¹, Chull Shon¹

¹Dzpartment of Pediatrics, College of MedicineChonnam National University, Kwang Ju, Korea

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of acute starvation on blood constituents, serum amylase activity and levels of serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and protein fractions were measured in 336 normal children and 60 children acutely starved as a result of encsphalitis. The mean starvation period was 4 days. Hypoalbuminemic children were also examined. The tests revealed that starvation resulted in a significant reduction in serum amylase activity, though the reduction in amylase activity did not correated with the duration of starvation. In contrast, BUN, total serum protein and levels of albumin and globulin were not affected by acute starvation. In the hypoalbuminemic children, however, the reduction of serum amylase activity was accompanied by a decreased BUN level. The results suggest that a reduction in serum amylase activity might be one of the sensi- tive indicators of acute starvation.

Keywords :Amylase activity;Acutely statrated children; Epidemic encephalitis.