Serum phospholipase A in hospitalized patients

Threehundred and thirty sera from hospitalized patients were analyzed for phospholipase A (PLA) activity. About 30% of unselected patients showed values above the normal range (0 to 10 U/l). The ratio of pathological to normal results was even higher in intensive care patients (around 1:1) and in patients with severe infections (2:1). 'Hyperphospholipasemia' was not typical for any defined organ system. From an etiological viewpoint, infectious diseases were most often related to increased PLA, followed by myocardial infarction and insufficiency and by malignant diseases. It is suggested that phospholipase A is a marker enzyme for the phagocytic activity in inflammation and necrosis.