[Etiologic significance of hereditary deficiency of proteinase alpha1-inhibitor in the formation of respiratory diseases].

A study was made of the content of protease alpha 1-inhibitor and of the phenotyping of protease alpha 1-inhibitor subtypes in 666 patients with different chronic non-specific pulmonary diseases. It is concluded that pronounced deficiency of protease alpha 1-inhibitor is of importance in the formation of primary emphysema, chronic obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma. The clinical characteristics of obstructive pulmonary diseases marked by protease alpha 1-inhibitor deficiency have been investigated.