alpha-chymotrypsin and Meningococcal-Infections

Serum lactoferrin concentrations were elevated in almost all children with meningococcal septicemia, in whom the disease had been clinically apparent for less than 18 hours, while the concentrations were normal or only moderately elevated in patients who had had the disease longer before being admitted. Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were markedly elevated, even with a time lapse of less than six hours, making this the most suitable parameter for the early diagnosis of severe meningococcal infection. Following an operative injury on children the lactoferrin concentrations changed very little. More than six hours after an operation, however, a marked increase in CRP-values was observed, possibly indicating differentiation of this response from that of bacterial infection. The concomitant study of serum alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, orosomucoid and haptoglobin did not uncover results of great significance with regard to early changes.

Topics: Acute Disease; alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C-Reactive Protein; Chymotrypsin; Haptoglobins; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Meningococcal Infections; Orosomucoid; Sepsis; Time Factors

Values of mean antiproteases were studied in 60 children with meningococcal sepsis. At illness onset, increased levels of alpha-1 antiquimotrypsin (p less than 0.001) and decreased of alpha-2 macroglobulin (p less than 0.001) were found. Moreover, patients who were complicated with a disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) also showed a decrease of antithrombin III (p less than 0.001) and inter alpha-1 trypsin inhibitor (p less than 0.001). There was not relationship between antiproteases levels and mortality. In 33 cases the measures were repeated 24 hours later, but no homogeneous results were found, in spite of alpha-2 macroglobulin fall in patients complicated with DIC (p less than 0.05). Phenotypic variants of alpha-1 antitrypsin were studied in 47 cases by isoelectric focusing. Results did not provide evidence that "abnormal phenotypes" (no-Pi MM) could facilitate meningococcal sepsis or DIC, but an increased number of "abnormal phenotypes" (5/9) were found in dead patients (p less than 0.025).

Topics: alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; alpha-Macroglobulins; Antithrombin III; Child, Preschool; Chymotrypsin; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Humans; Infant; Meningococcal Infections; Phenotype; Protease Inhibitors

Cascade enzyme inhibitors (C1-esterase inhibitor, C3b inactivator, antithrombin III) and other major proteolytic enzyme inhibitors (alpha 1 trypsin inhibitor, alpha 1 chymotrypsin inhibitor, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, alpha 2 macroglobulin) as well as C3 and alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, have been examined in the sera of Nigerian patients suffering from meningococcal infection of varied severity. Patients with meningococcaemia had lower serum concentrations of important inhibitors than did patients with localised meningitic infection. Within the coccaemic group, those who died had the lowest values, notably of antithrombin III and alpha 2 macroglobulin (and also of C3). The clinical end-result of meningococcal infection may be related to the degree of disequilibrium of the linked system of proteolytic control induced by the meningococcal endotoxin.

Topics: alpha-Macroglobulins; Antithrombin III; Child; Chymotrypsin; Complement C3; Complement Inactivator Proteins; Glycoproteins; Humans; Meningococcal Infections; Protease Inhibitors; Trypsin Inhibitors