Serum protease inhibitors in acute viral hepatitis (original) (raw)

Summary

Serum levels of α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) and α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) and, as controls, α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AG) and haptoglobin were evaluated by means of laser nephelometry in 17 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) type A, 16 with AVH-B, 12 with AVH-NANB and 8 with fulminant hepatitis B. On admission, α1-AT levels were elevated in one third of AVH-A and AVH-B cases, but subsequently declined; α2-M levels were elevated in about 40% of AVH-B patients during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week after admission. No significant correlation was found between elevated levels of protease inhibitors and aminotransferase values or drug addiction and δ coinfection. α1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin levels were always normal or low. Protease inhibitors did not show any elevation in fulminant hepatitis, while changes were found only in a few patients with AVH-NANB. Thus, no clearcut pattern of changes in protease inhibitors has been found in association with each type of hepatitis, although α1-AT and α2-M elevations are mainly found in AVH-B.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I Patologia Medica e Metodologia Clinica, Ospedale Policlinico S. Orsola, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italia
    Riccardo Meliconi, Oreste Parracino, Andrea Facchini, Federico Miglio & Giovanni Gasbarrini
  2. Istituto di Malattie Infettive, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italia
    Gabriella Verucchi & Francesco Chiodo
  3. Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica, Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna
    Maria Luisa Schiattone

Authors

  1. Riccardo Meliconi
  2. Oreste Parracino
  3. Andrea Facchini
  4. Gabriella Verucchi
  5. Francesco Chiodo
  6. Maria Luisa Schiattone
  7. Federico Miglio
  8. Giovanni Gasbarrini

Additional information

This work was partially supported by grants from_Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)_ and_Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione, Roma_, Italy.

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Meliconi, R., Parracino, O., Facchini, A. et al. Serum protease inhibitors in acute viral hepatitis.La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 17, 53–59 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02909389

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