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[A new method for semi-quantitative alpha 1-antitrypsin determination in human tear fluid]
Fortschritte Der Ophthalmologie : Zeitschrift Der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft
|January 1, 1989
Summary
A new method rapidly quantifies alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) in tears using film digestion. This technique aids in diagnosing eye conditions like keratitis by assessing tear trypsin inhibitor capacity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Context:
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) plays a crucial role in protecting tissues from enzymatic degradation.
- Tear analysis offers a non-invasive window into ocular health and systemic conditions.
- Existing methods for alpha-1-AT determination can be time-consuming or require specialized equipment.
Purpose:
- To develop and validate a simple, rapid, semiquantitative method for determining alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in human tears.
- To adapt a previously established serum alpha-1-AT assay for tear analysis.
- To establish a grading system for tear trypsin inhibitor capacity correlating with alpha-1-AT concentrations.
Summary:
- A modified Endre's method utilizes trypsin-digested color slides and tear samples to semiquantitatively assess alpha-1-AT levels.
- The method differentiates four grades of tear trypsin inhibitor capacity, corresponding to specific alpha-1-AT concentration ranges (e.g., Grade I: >150 µg/ml, Grade IV: <15 µg/ml).
- Validation using radial immune diffusion confirmed the accuracy of the established concentration ranges.
Impact:
- Provides a rapid, cost-effective tool for clinical and screening examinations of tear alpha-1-antitrypsin.
- Facilitates the diagnosis of various ocular conditions, including different types of keratitis.
- Offers a valuable diagnostic aid for ophthalmologists and researchers studying ocular surface diseases.