Changes in serum diamine oxidase activity during chemotherapy in patients with hematological malignancies

Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity is very low, but is considered to refl ect quantitative changes in small intestinal mass. Therefore, we measured D AO activity during chemotherapy in patients with hematological malignancies in order to evaluate mucosal injury. DAO activity decreased from 1-3 weeks after chemotherapy but returned to initial levels after 4 weeks. As the do sage of anti-cancer drugs increased, DAO activity decreased more, but its a ctivity was not related to other parameters. These findings suggest that se rum DAO could be used as an indicator of mucosal injury during chemotherapy . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.