Effect of total gastrectomy on acid proteolytic zymogens in serum and urine.

Proteolytic pH-activity curve and agar gel electrophoretic pattern of acid proteolytic zymogens in serum and urine were studied in totally gastrectomized patients. In serum, total gastrectomy was found to reduce proteolytic activity markedly, but no appreciable changes could be detected by electrophoretic analysis. In urine, however, in addition to the marked reduction of proteolytic activity, changes were found in electrophoretic pattern after total gastrectomy. Namely, fraction Pg 3 tended to persist, while Pg 5 disappeared along with the lapse of time after total gastrectomy. An unusual appearance of fraction Pg 7 in urine was also observed on the occasion of postoperative transient albuminuria. Their orgins and related clinical problems were discussed.