The morbidity of children with decreased serum levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin in an air pollution area.

In a group of 115 children, originating from an area with industrial air pollution, a subgroups of 13 (11.3%) children was found with markedly decreased levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT). Most children of the concerned subgroups were girls (10/64 - 18.5%), and only 3/61 (4.9%) were boys. In comparison with another group of 120 children, originating from an unpolluted area, only 2 (1.7%) of children showed decreased levels of A 1-AT. Significantly decreased serum levels of IgM and Lysozyme were simultaneously found in the hypo A 1-AT children, whereas IgG, IgA and total blood proteinemia did not differ from the controls. Increased morbidity, especially for respiratory diseases, was found in the group with the A 1-AT decreased below the level of 1.5 mg/ml, in comparison with the children of the same area without a decrease of A 1-AT. The lowest morbidity was stated in the control from non-polluted area. The decreased A 1-AT levels were restored to the normal values after half a year in most of the afflicted children, with the exception of two girls. Hypothesis is suggested that markedly decreased A 1-AT values could be caused by environmental influences. This acquired deficiency is reversible in contrast with the well known genetical deficiency.