Veno-arterial difference in alpha 1 -antitrypsin levels

Metabolic indices of pulmonary damage. Changes in angiotensin converting enzyme and alpha 1 anti-trypsin activity after cardiopulmonary bypass

The activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme was measured in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and in a control group requiring thoracotomy for pulmonary surgery. The activity of the enzyme was higher in patients with cardiac disease, fell during operations involving cardiopulmonary bypass, but did not change during thoracotomy for pulmonary surgery. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. The activity of another enzyme, alpha 1 anti-trypsin, did not change during cardiopulmonary bypass and no arteriovenous difference could be detected during or after operation.

An arterio-venous study of serum alpha1-antitrypsin in patients with chronic bronchitis

The effect of passage through the lung on alpha1-antitrypsin was studied in sixteen patients with chronic obstructive airways disease. The average mixed venous value of alpha1-antitrypsin (106.2% standard serum value) was not different from the the mean arterial value (105.6%). Where individual differences were found there was a similar difference in serum albumin. However, there was a small but significant rise (p less than 0.005) in serum alpha1-antitrypsin "complex" as blood traversed the lung (mixed value = 6.3%; mixed arterial value = 6.8%). The reason is not yet clear.

Is there a venoarterial difference in alpha 1-antitrypsin levels?

Serum trypsin inhibitory capacity and alpha(1)-antitrypsin concentrations were compared in venous and arterial bloods obtained simultaneously from patients with chronic airways obstruction. No significant venoarterial difference was observed in most patients, which was contrary to the published findings of Woolcock et al. (1972).