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[Initial personal experiences with alpha-1-antitrypsin determination in feces]
S Schwery1, C Meyenberger, R Ammann
1Gastroenterologische Abteilung, Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|September 23, 1995
Summary
Fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin testing helps identify enteric protein loss and Crohn's disease activity. Elevated levels indicate inflammatory conditions, aiding in differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Chemistry
Context:
- Fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin is a recognized marker for enteric protein loss.
- It is also used to assess intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease patients.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the utility of fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin measurements in diagnosing protein-losing enteropathy and inflammatory bowel disease.
- To correlate fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin levels with disease activity in various gastrointestinal conditions.
Summary:
- This study analyzed fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin in 88 patients with chronic diarrhea or suspected protein-losing enteropathy.
- Measurements included random stool concentration, 24-hour excretion, and clearance.
- Increased levels were observed in Crohn's disease, other inflammatory small intestine diseases, and some cases of infectious diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, correlating with disease activity.
Impact:
- Fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin measurement aids in distinguishing inflammatory from non-inflammatory causes of diarrhea.
- The findings support its role in diagnosing protein-losing enteropathy and monitoring inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease.