Changes in enzyme activity in normal and histologically inflamed oesophageal epithelium. Issue 9 (September 1979)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopwood, D; Ross, P E; Logan, K R; Nicholson, G; Bouchier, I A
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 20:Issue 9(1979)
• Page Start: 769
• Page End: 774
• Publication Date: 1979-09
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.20.9.769
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : Oesophageal biopsies were obtained from 74 patinets undergoing upper gastrointestinal fibreoptic endoscopy. Thirteen patients with histological evidence of inflammation had a raised alkaline phosphatase activity (2.7 +/- 1.6 nmol/mg protein/min) compared with 49 normal controls (1.2 +/- 0.68 nmol/mg protein/min: P less than 0.001). The acid phosphatase level was lower (8.4+/- 4.0 vs. 5.8 +/- 2.2 nmol/mg protein/min: P less than 0.05) and the glucuronidase activity raised (0.44 +/- 0.17 vs 0.81 +/- 0.32 nmol/mg protein/min: P less than 0.001) and their ratio declined (24.0 +/- 1.9 nmol/mg protein/min: P less than 0.001) in patients with oesophagitis. This may be due to differential secretion of membrane coating granules, a form of lysosome found isophagitis--was assessed by point counting. The volume density rose from 10.9 +/- 4.25% in normal biopsies to 46.4+/-12.5% (P less than 0.001) in oesophagitis. These results show a consistent pattern that possibly indicates an intermediate stage between the clinically, histologically, and biochemically normal oesophagus and one that is inflamed on endoscopy.