ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN AND ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN-NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE COMPLEX IN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY-DISEASES(PILOT-STUDY)

A simple method based on rocket and crossed immunoelectrophoresis was adapted for detection of alpha(1) AT-HNE complexes in BALF: Agarose ge l with anti-alpha(1)AT combined with intermediate gel containing anti- HNE was used for detection and evaluation of the ratio complexes with HNE to the free form of alpha(1) AT. BALF samples from 31 patients div ided into 5 groups suffering from various respiratory tract diseases w ere tested. It was found that 3 out of 8 patients with inflammatory pu lmonary diseases showed the presence of both forms of alpha(1) AT, 7 o ut of 13 patients suffering from cancer showed both forms, whereas the complexed form was not detected in any of 8 patients with asthma bron chiale. It is suggested that the presence of alpha(1)AT-HNE complex ma y reflect, to some extent, the proteolytic status of pulmonary tissue.