Elastase-alpha 1 antitrypsin complexes in acute leukaemia.

30 consecutive patients with acute leukaemia were studied prior to commencement of treatment in order to assess the incidence and significance of raised elastase (ELP) - alpha 1 antitrypsin complex level. In addition the reliability of detecting low factor XIII subunit levels as an indicator of in vivo release of ELP was evaluated. While 15 patients had raised levels of ELP alpha 1 antitrypsin complex levels, only 4 of these had reduced levels or factor XIII subunits A and S. In addition increased levels of ELP- alpha 1 antitrypsin complex were not associated with any marked disturbance of routine coagulation tests. Patients with raised ELP- alpha 1 antitrypsin complex levels had significantly higher circulating white cell and blast cell counts as compared to those patients with normal levels of this complex. In patients entering remission the levels of ELP- alpha 1 antitrypsin complex returned to normal.