Alpha 2 macroglobulin state in acute pancreatitis. Raised values of alpha 2 macroglobulin-protease complexes in severe and mild attacks. Issue 4 (April 1991)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banks, R E; Evans, S W; Alexander, D; Van Leuven, F; Whicher, J T; McMahon, M J
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 32:Issue 4(1991)
• Page Start: 430
• Page End: 434
• Publication Date: 1991-04
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.32.4.430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : Plasma values of C reactive protein, alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor, alpha 2 macroglobulin, and complexed alpha 2 macroglobulin have been determined in serial samples from 27 patients with acute pancreatitis. Complexed alpha 2 macroglobulin was measured by a novel enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with a monoclonal antibody specific for the complexed form. Patients with severe illness had lower concentrations of total alpha 2 macroglobulin and higher concentrations of complexed alpha 2 macroglobulin than those with mild illness, and in the majority of severe attacks the abnormal amounts of complexed alpha 2 macroglobulin were present throughout the eight days of the study. The proportion of total alpha 2 macroglobulin in the uncomplexed form, however, was generally greater than 90%, and in 26% of the mild cases completely normal concentrations of uncomplexed alpha 2 macroglobulin (greater than 99% of total) were found throughout the eight days of the study. This suggests that exhaustion of alpha 2 macroglobulin in plasma is unlikely to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.