Correlation between bile amylase elevation and biliary tract disease in patients with normal pancreaticobiliary junction / 中华消化内镜杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between bile amylase (BA) elevation and biliary tract disease in patients with normal pancreaticobiliary junction (NPBJ). Methods The bile juice was collected from bile duct in 202 consecutive cases who underwent therapeutic endoscopic retragrade cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary diseases ( biliary bile group), and from gallbladder (GB) in 73 consecutive cases who underwent percutaneous transbepatic cholecystoscopy for extraction of GB stone ( GB bile group). In biliary bile group, in addition to the measurement of BA, the level of lipnse (n =68), bacteria culture ( n = 149 ), manometry of Oddi's sphincter ( n = 27 ) and bile duct ( n = 38) were also performed. In GB bile group, additional GB biopsy was taken in 31 cases. No patient with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, history of cholangiojejunostomy or post-endoscopic sphincterotomy was included in the study. Results In biliary bile group, BA level was elevated in 95 patients (47. 0% ), in which there was no significant difference between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cases ( 56. 9% vs. 43.7%, P > 0. 05 ), although BA was elevated in most patients with hiler cholangiocarcinoma (7/9). The level of BA was correlated with bile lipase (r =0. 561 ), but not with pressure of Oddi's sphincter or bile duct. No significant difference in positive rate of bile bacteria culture was detected between patients with normal BA level and those with elevated level. In GB bile group, BA level was elevated in 25 patients (34. 3% ), in which the frequency of GB epithelium dysplasia is 87.5%, which was significantly higher than that from patients with normal BA level ( P < 0. 001 ). Conclusion The patients with biliary tract disease and NPBJ have high incidence of reflux of pancreatic juice into bile duct. In patients with elevated BA level, there was no significant difference between incidences of neoplastic or non-neoplastic disease, while the frequency of GB epithelium dysplasia and hilar cholangiocarcinoma were higher than those from patients with normal BA level.