Clinical significance of serum diamine oxidase in severe acute pancreatitis

Objective To explore the changes of serum diamine oxidase(DAO) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) and evaluate its clinical significance used as a potential index for monitoring intestinal mucosal barrier function.Methods According to acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE) Ⅱ scores,the 46 SAP patients were divided into three groups:group A(n=15,APACHE Ⅱ score10),group B(n=19,APACHE Ⅱ score 10-20) and group C(n=12,APACHE Ⅱ score20),and group D(n=10) was served as healthy control.The serum DAO levels of all the participants in the four groups were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA,and the results were statistically analyzed.Results Compared with group D 〔(1.49±0.43)U/ml〕,the serum DAO levels in group A 〔(2.03±0.56) U/ml,t=2.59,P0.05〕,group B 〔(3.09±1.17) U/ml,t=4.12,P0.01〕 and group C 〔(2.17±0.81) U/ml,t=2.38,P0.05〕 were significantly higher;the DAO level in B group was significantly higher than those in group A(t=3.22,P0.01)and group C(t=2.40,P0.05);the DAO level in group C was slightly higher than that in group A,but there was no significant difference between them(t=0.51,P0.05).Conclusions The serum DAO level might be served as a sensitive marker for early diagnosis of intestinal mucosal injury.If the patients' condition worsens while the serum DAO level lowers by contraries,it suggests that intestinal mucosal injury is exacerbated.