Study of the diastatic index of the urine in epidemic parotitis and in the normal subject

Abstract

1. In cases of epidemic parotitis the urinary díasta is increased to an extent commensurate with that found in cases of acute pancreatitis, This increase occurs early in the disease, and persists until convalescence,2. There is no apparent increase in the diastase content of the urine in cases of parotid swelling not due to mumps.3. This rise in the diastase content is so marked, and so constant as to be of service as a diagnostic test where there is doubt as to the nature of the swelling,4, Twenty one cases of mum,,s were tested by Loewi' s method for pancreatitis, but all showed a negative reaction, Thus it appears unlikely that the high diastase content of the urine in mumps is due to coexistent inflammation of the pancreas.5. In the normal subject, diet or the taking of fluids has little or no influence on the rate of excretion of diastase by the kidneys; and provided the rate of excretion is measured, and not merely the concentration, no special precautions need be taken before making estimations.