[Elastase and acid phosphatase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during chronic bronchitis]

The dynamics of acid phosphatase and granulocytic elastase activities in bronchoalveolar washings of 40 patients with chronic catarrhal bronchitis was studied. In case of effective cure, the activities of these enzymes were increased shortly on the 10-13 days from beginning of the cure. In order to study the nature of this enzymes, the additional researches were conducted. These researches demonstrated that the macrophages were the source of the acid phosphatase, and the neutrophils--elastase. The transitory increase of the activity of both enzymes is favourable prognostical sign of disease's course.