Enzyme Therapy: Current Perspectives.

Enzymes control all metabolic processes in human system from simple digestion of food to highly complex immune response. Physiological reactions occuring in healthy individuals are disturbed when enzymes are deficient or absent. Enzymes are administered for normalizing biological function in certain pathologies. Initially, crude proteolytic enzymes were used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Recent advances have enabled enzyme therapy as a promising tool in the treatment of cardiovascular, oncological and hereditary diseases. Now, a spectrum of other diseases are also covered under enzyme therapy. But, the available information on the use of enzymes as therapeutic agents for different diseases is scanty. This review details the enzymes which have been used to treat various diseases/disorders.

Enzymes in clinical medicine: An overview.

Enzymes are biocatalysts and because of their remarkable properties, they are extensively used in medical diagnosis. Researches in the last two decades have concentrated more on enzymes such as creatine kinase–MB, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase etc. for clinical applications. Enzymes are the preferred markers in various disease states such as myocardial infarction, jaundice, pancreatitis, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. They provide insight into the disease process by diagnosis, prognosis and assessment of response therapy. Even though the literature on the use of enzymes in various disease conditions has accumulated, a comprehensive analysis is lacking and hence this review.