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Elizabeth Rodríguez-Romero, Juan Antonio Suárez-Cuenca, César Iván Elizalde-Barrera, Paul Mondragón-Terán, José Enrique Martínez-Hernández, Eduardo Gómez-Cortés, Rebeca Pérez-Cabeza de Vaca, Rolando E. Hernández-Muñoz, Alberto Melchor-López, Nayeli Gabriela Jiménez-Saab
(Department of Internal Medicine, Xoco General Hospital, and Ticomán General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico)
Med Sci Monit 2015; 21:1194-1199
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.893350
BACKGROUND:
Alpha1 anti-trypsin (α1-AT), a serine protease inhibitor synthesized in the liver, is a major circulating antiprotease that provides defense against proteolytic damage in several tissues. Its deficiency is associated with airflow obstruction. The present study aimed to explore the role of α1-AT as a biomarker of airflow performance in chronic liver disease (CLD).
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Serum α1-AT levels and lung function (spirometry) were evaluated in non-primary α1-AT-deficient, alcoholic CLD patients without evident respiratory limitations.
RESULTS:
Thirty-four patients with airflow obstruction (n=11), airflow restriction (n=12), and normal airflow (n=11, age-matched controls) were eligible. α1-AT was decreased in the airflow obstruction group. ROC-cutoff α1-AT=24 mg/dL effectively discriminated airflow obstruction (AUC=0.687) and was associated with a 10-fold higher risk (p=0.0007).
CONCLUSIONS:
Lower α1-AT increased the risk of airflow obstruction in CLD patients without primary α1-AT deficiency.