Leucine aminopeptidase, Significance of serum elevation in bilharziasis

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity and creatinine concentration was estimated in serum of twenty five normal adult subjects, twenty four cases with active urinary bilharziasis, eleven cases with active intestinal bilharziasis, ten cases with mixed bilharzial infection (urinary and intestinal), fourteen bilharzial cases with clinical hepato-splenomegaly of bilharzial etiology, thirteen bilharzial cases with clinical hepatosplenomegaly and ascites, and twelve cases with cancer bladder of bilharzial etiology. Significant elevation in the serum enzyme level was found in all bilharzial cases which generally ran parallel to the course of the disease, being more marked in hepatosplenomegalic cases than in cases which showed no clinical signs of liver or spleen involvement. However, it was observed that the enzyme level was lower ascitic than in nonascitic cases. For serum creatinine concentration, no significant variation from normal value was observed in the group of patients with active urinary, active intestinal, mixed infections of bilharziasis and bilharzial hepatosplenomegalic cases. However, a very highly significant decrease in serum creatinine concentration was observed in the group of patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and ascites. Serum LAP activity and creatinine concentration in the group of patients with cancer bladder of bilharzial etiology showed no statistical variation from normal values.