Serum elastase inhibitors in cardio-vascular diseases.

Serum elastase inhibiting capacity was measured in three groups: 150 control subjects, 38 hospitalized children without cardiovacular diseases and 202 hospitalized patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The values obtained were 53% in control adult subjects and 79% (range 45--90%) in the hospitalized patient groups. The highest levels were recorded at the acute phase of myocardial infarction. The levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M) were determined by radial immunodiffusion technique for various levels of inhibitory power. No correlation was found between the inhibitory power levels and the alpha1-AT and alpha2-M levels. This study suggests that other proteins may intervene in the inhibition process of elastolysis.