The values of alpha-1-antitrypsin in bronchial secretion in infants with spastic bronchitis and bronchopneumonia
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Alpha-1-antitrypsin is consistently found in infant bronchial secretions during respiratory illnesses. Measuring it twice is recommended to confirm its presence and guide treatment with enzymatic secretolytics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pulmonology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Acute respiratory diseases are common in infants.
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a key proteinase inhibitor.
- Its role in infant respiratory secretions needs clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in bronchial secretions of infants with spastic bronchitis and/or bronchopneumonia.
- To determine the clinical significance of AAT in infant respiratory tract infections.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal determination of alpha-1-antitrypsin values in bronchial secretions.
- Study included fifty infants with acute respiratory diseases.
- Samples collected at intervals during the course of illness.
Main Results:
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin is regularly present in infant bronchial secretions.
- Detection may require serial sampling (e.g., two samples 3 days apart).
- AAT presence correlates with lung physical findings and persists throughout the acute phase.
Conclusions:
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin acts as a non-specific defense mechanism in the infant respiratory tract, not just an acute phase reactant.
- Determination of AAT in bronchial secretions is clinically important for infants with acute respiratory diseases.
- AAT levels can indicate the need for enzymatic secretolytic therapy.
Abstract:
The alpha-1-antitrypsin values in bronchial secretion in fifty infants suffering from spastic bronchitis and/or bronchopneumonia were determined longitudinally. It was found that alpha-1-antitrypsin is regularly present in bronchial secretion. However, since alpha-1-antitrypsin was present only in the second sample of bronchial secretion in some investigated infants, it is necessary to determine it twice during the acute respiratory diseases at intervals of 3 days from appearance of the first clinical symptoms. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is present in bronchial secretion during the acute respiratory diseases in infants as long as physical finding exists on lungs. That points to the fact that this protein in bronchial secretion does not behave only as acute phase reactant but it represents a component of nonspezific defence mechanism of respiratory tract against infection. The alpha-1-antitrypsin determination in bronchial secretion in infants with acute respiratory diseases is of clinical importance since it can be used as the indicator for application of enzymatic secretolytics during these diseases.