Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin levels in alcoholic hepatitis.

Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin concentrations have been measured in 68 patients with liver disease. High mean values (359 +/- 18.0) were found in patients with alcoholic hepatitis whereas patients with acute viral hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis did not show any significant differences from the controls. In a group of patients with both alcoholic hepatitis and acute pancreatitis the mean value (218 +/- 5.8) was significantly lower than in the control group. The mechanism for the reduction of serum alpha 1-antitrypsin levels in this group remains to be clarified but low serum alpha 1-antitrypsin may be due to increased proteolytic enzyme concentrations in acute pancreatitis.