Blood levels of alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: Effects of gender and apolipoprotein E genotype

Concentrations of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured in serum or plasma samples from 137 patients with late-onset probable Alzheimer's dise ase (AD) and 89 controls. Levels of ACT from sera or plasma from both AD or controls were different, being highest in serum samples, Increased levels of serum or plasma ACT and normal levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were f ound in AD. Differences in serum ACT levels between AD and controls were st atistically significant, while those in plasma ACT were not. ACT serum leve ls were higher in women with AD that in female and male controls. Apolipopr otein E (APOE) genotypes did not independently affect blood ACT levels in b oth AD and controls; although, among AD patients, female AD patients with A POE 4,4 showed the highest level of serum ACT. The gender effect appeared t o be prominent, since female AD patients with APOE 3,3 had similar ACT leve ls to those of female AD patients with APOE 4,4. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karg er AG, Basel.