Serum enzyme half life can be a useful factor for follow-up management of biliary pancreatitis.

Background And Objective: The purpose of this study was to show that the half lives of serum amylase and lipase activities could be useful factors for follow-up management of biliary pancreatitis.

Methods: Ten patients with initial biliary pancreatitis (IBP) and six with post-endoscopic pancreatitis (PEP) were selected from those who had undergone endoscopic surgery. Serum amylase and lipase activities were examined and the relaxation patterns were investigated continuously after the endoscopic removal of the pancreatico-biliary obstruction causing this disease.

Results: Pancreatitis in the subjects was confirmed as a biliary type since the serum bilirubin activities decreased exponentially after removal of the obstruction. The average half lives of serum amylase and lipase were both larger in the IBP, while the average peak values were higher in the PEP.

Conclusions: Half life can be a useful factor for follow-up management of this disease.