RECURRENT INFECTIONS AND ALPHA(1)-PROTEAS E INHIBITOR PHENOTYPES IN CHILDREN

Recurrent respiratory tract infections are often concentrated on a gro up of children. A disposition is probable. The connection between alph a1-proteaseinhibitor (AT-PI) and unspecific chronic bronchitis is desc ribed. We have been searching for such interdependence between infecti on in the upper respiratory tract and AT-PI phenotypes. 88 children we re examined in the Stadtischen Kliniken Oldenburg. The AT-PI phenotype s were ascertained by isoelectric focusing. An AT-PI phenotype MZ has been observed more often than with the normal population (p<0.01). The results suggest relations between insufficient AT-PI-MZ and recurrent infections in the upper respiratory tract.