[Serum neutrophil elastase and activity of its inhibitors in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]

The paper presents the results of determination of some parameters that characterize the proteolytic and phosphohydrolase activities of neutrophils, as well as the levels of plasma inhibitors of neutrophilic elastase in 76 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Evidence is provided that the pretreatment activity of serum neutrophilic elastase and the levels of neutrophilic cationic proteins and alkaline phosphatase are increased in the patients. There is a trend for these parameters to become normal during effective treatment. It has been ascertained that the activity of the major elastase inhibitor, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, is much enhanced in patients with acute and subacute pulmonary tuberculosis, but is the same as the normal vales in patients with torpid tuberculosis.