Serum levels and alpha1-antitrypsin phenotypes in active pulmonary tuberculosis

alpha1-at phenotypes and serum levels were studied in 100 Greek patients of pulmonary TBC by starch-gel electrophoresis and radial immunodiffusion. The mean value of alpha1-at (315 +/- 77) was significantly lower (p less than 0.005) than in the control group. An attempt is made to explain this finding based on the alpha1-at phenotypes distribution in the TBC patients.