[Plasma concentration of polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in patients with...

To test the possible participation of activated leukocytes in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer, plasma levels of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (PMN-EC), a discerning indicator for the activation of leukocytes, were determined in patients with gastric ulcer. Plasma levels of PMN-EC in patients with gastric ulcer (185.2 +/- 21.6 micrograms/l, mean +/- S.E.M.) were significantly higher than those in normal healthy subjects (67.6 +/- 4.4 micrograms/l, p less than 0.01). On the other hand, plasma levels of C-reactive protein and sialic acid increased in only 17.8% and 7.1% of patients with gastric ulcer, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between PMN-EC and the plasma levels of CRP or sialic acid. Plasma levels of PMN-EC decreased with the healing of the ulcerative lesion as judged by gastro-endoscopic observation. These findings suggested that activation of leukocytes might deeply be correlated with the pathologic mechanism of gastric ulceration and the measurement of PMN-EC might be useful for monitoring the patients with gastric ulcer.