Clinical studies on serum factors in patients with bronchal asthma Part 1. Changes in α(1)-Antitrypsin and α(1)-Acid glycoprotein levels in patients with bronchial asthma and other respiratory diseases

Serum α(1)-Antitrypsin (α(1)-AT) and α(1)-Acid glycoprotein (α(1)-AG) levels were measured in 34 healthy subjects, 167 patients with bronchial asthma and 82 cases with other respiratory diseases. The serum levels of α(1)-AT were significantly increased in patients over 40 years old and the levels of α(1)-AG were significantly higher in patients over 50 years old compared to the those under 50 years old. The serum levels of α(1)-AT and α(1)-AG were significantly more increased in asthmatic patients with mixed and infective type during asymptomatic periods than in healthy subjects. The levels of α(1)-AT were significantly higher in patients with mild and moderate asthma than in healthy subjects. The levels of α(1)-AG were also significantly higher in mild and severe asthmatic patients than in healthy subjects. Patients with severe asthma showed more increased levels of α(1)-AT during attack periods compared to that during non-attack periods. The levels of α(1)-AT and α(1)-AG in asthma patients with steroid therapy were within normal limits during the non-attack periods, but significantly increased during the attack periods. In asthmatic patients with mixed type, infectious type, severe type and steroid therapy, a correlation was observed between the serum levels of α(1)-AT and α(1)-AG during their attack periods.

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