All issues > Volume 27(4); 1984

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1984;27(4):350-357. Published online April 30, 1984.

Early Reduction of Serum Amylase Activity in Children with Epidemic Encephalitis.

Suk Jung Chang, Eui Hyung Kim, Tai Ju Hwang, Chull Sohn

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam University Medical School, Kwang Ju, Korea

Abstract

In 52 children aged form 5 to 13 years who were acutely starving from epidemic encephalitis, authors measured the level of amylase activity, BUN, GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine in serum and GOT, GPT, amylase activity in CSF. And in another group of 7 children with acute viral hepatitis, GOT, GPT in serum and CSF were also measured. In children with epidemic encephalitis, there was a significant reduction in serum amylase activity. The SGOT, SGPT were significantly elevated, and the GOT, GPT in CSF were even more markedly elevated. The serum alkaline phosphatase remained within normal limit. In children with, acute viral hepatitis, the SGOT and SGPT were several times greater than, in epidemic encephalitis. But the GOT and GPT in CSF were within normal limits. The results mean that the deterioration in liver function in epidemic encephalitis is not as severe as in acute viral hepatitis. It at least suggests that the early reduction in serum amylase activity is related to certain biochemical alterations resulting from acute starvation, rather than to liver function.

Keywords :Serum amylase activity; Epidemic encephalitis