BLOOD LIPASE, DIASTASE AND ESTERASE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Abstract

We previously made a preliminary report¹confirming the observations of Brickner²on a lipolytic substance in the blood serum of patients with multiple sclerosis. At that time we proposed that rather than being an etiologic factor, as Brickner suggested, the presence of this enzyme in the blood might be an indication of functional insufficiency of the liver or pancreas. We have reported on an abnormal lipase in the blood in experimental damage³of the pancreas or liver and in patients with hepatic disease.¹Recently we have shown that the blood diastase is also increased following experimental injury of the liver,⁴and have suggested that normally pancreatic lipase and diastase are absorbed from the lumen of the intestine, but are removed (lipase completely and diastase partially) from the portal blood by the liver. In this connection it is important to bear in mind the distinction between