alpha-1-ANTITRYPSIN, 20 mL

PRINCIPLE

The reagent allows quantifying the level of human ?1-antitrypsin present in the sample by comparing the turbidimetric response produced with that obtained from the standard curve of known concentrations of human ?1-antitrypsin. The reagent is an antiserum anti-human ?1-antitrypsin which reacts with the ?1-antitrypsin of the serum giving protein aggregates. This aggregation process produces an increase in the Abs. of the system.

DIAGNOSTIC USE

α1-antitrypsin (AAT), is a protein synthesized in the liver by the hepatocytes. AAT is the most abundant protease inhibitor in plasma. AAT covalently binds to the active sites of serine proteases, thus blocking their enzymatic activity. AAT inhibits many proteases, however one of the most critical is the elastase, which is released from neutrophils. AAT defi cit is a genetic defect. It is associated with the risk to suffer pulmonary emphysema. It could also be associated with liver diseases as hepatitis, cirrhosis or hepatocelular carcinoma. Plasma AAT concentrations are increased in acute inflammatory or necrotic processes. It is also increased by estrogens stimulation, particularly during late pregnancy and during estrogen therapy. A single test result could not be used to make a clinical diagnosis. It should integrate clinical and laboratory data.