Lysosomes are cell organelles which take part in many physiological and pathologic processes, including inflammations. Various authors described the change of lysosome hydrolases activity in the course of some neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to evaluate the activity of arylsulphatase, cathepsin D and acid phosphatase in blood serum of children with gastritis and duodenitis before and after treatment. We examined 21 children aged 6-14. The activity of lysosome hydrolases in blood serum was determined with the help of colorimetry. The results obtained were analysed statistically. Preliminary studies revealed that the activity of cathepsin D and acid phosphatase in children with gastritis and duodenitis is higher than in children from the control group. After the treatment which led to the improvement of mucous membrane, the activity of these enzymes diminished, but the difference was not statistically significant, while the activity of arylsulphatase before the treatment was statistically significantly lower when compared to control group, and it increased statistically significantly after the treatment. On the basis of the present preliminary investigation, it may be speculated that lysosome enzymes take part in the inflammatory processes of gastritis and duodenitis in children, and the determination of its activity may be helpful in the monitoring of treatment.

Keywords: arylsulphatase, Cathepsin D, Acid Phosphatase, gastritis, Duodenitis, children