Plasma Antiprotease Status in Different Respiratory Disorders

In the present study we estimated plasma concentration and activity of antiproteases in control group and in the study groups of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, bronchiectasis and bronchial asthma. α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) concentration was significantly increased in all study groups as compared to control group. In patients with emphysema, bronchiectasis, and bronchial asthma. α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) concentration was significantly increased as compared to control group. But in patients with COPD, α2-M concentration was comparable to that of control group. Antitryptic and antielastase activity in condition of COPD was found to increase significantly. But in the other three study groups antitryptic activity was found to decrease. Antielastase activity was not found to vary significantly in bronchiectasis, and was found to decrease significantly in emphysema and bronchial asthma. Significant correlation between antiproteases concentration, antiproteases activity and pulmonary function tests was found only in some study groups.