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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This work was partially supported by grants fromConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) andMinistero 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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02909389