INCREASED SERUM TRYPSIN AND ELASTASE-1 LEVELS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING L-ASPARAGINASE THERAPY

Although there is abundant literature on the association of L-asparagi nase and acute pancreatitis in patients undergoing chemotherapy; few s tudies have investigated the usefulness of pancreatic enzyme measureme nt in the early diagnosis of L-asparaginase-induced acute pancreatitis . We measured levels of serum pancreatic enzymes before, during, and a fter L-asparaginase therapy in nine children with acute lymphocytic le ukaemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Serum levels of amylase, pancreatic i soamylase, and lipase did not change between the 1st and 30th day of L -asparaginase administration. However, the serum trypsin and elastase- 1 levels, 10 and 20 days after beginning L-asparaginase therapy, were significantly higher than those prior to therapy. Conclusion L-asparag inase may induce subclinical pancreatitis and the estimation of serum trypsin and elastase-1 may be useful in the early diagnosis of L-aspar aginase-induced pancreatitis.