[Isozyme analysis by enzyme immunoassay (EIA)--clinical significance and future prospect]

Serum isozymes are widely used for estimating the origin or the degree of injury. The significance and future prospect of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of isozymes are summarized in this paper. EIAs were developed for isozymes, e.g., unstable or labile, and indistinguishable by electrophoresis or ion-exchange column chromatography EIA can measure isozyme fragments with no catalytic activity. The catalytic activity of isoenzymes released from tissues disappears immediately but immunologically active isozymes or its fragment may remain in the blood for a longer period. The determination of isozymes by EIA provides an accurate mass, released from the injury. The combination assay of catalytic activity with isozyme mass by EIA may open a new approach for the disease.