["M" alpha-1-antitrypsin at term of pregnancy in an African population: concentration and microheterogeneity]

For 19 multipars in Ivory Coast alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) has been determined in mother's serum as well as in the cord serum and the amniotic fluid. In all cases the type of A1AT was MM. In 15 cases the pregnancies were normal and full term while four were premature (28th week). The A1AT levels obtained were found to be similar to the literature values and thereby do not seem to be influenced by the ethnic origin. Crossed electroimmunodiffusion analyses demonstrate a distribution of the different fractions of A1AT which is characteristic for each of the above groups of samples analysed. The similarity of the fractions in mother's serum and amniotic fluid indicate a maternal origin for A1AT of the latter. The cord blood shows a very characteristic increase in the peak M6. In the author's experience, they have only noticed such a peak in the blood of patients with primary liver cancer of the phenotype MM.