Serum Elastase Inhibitor Deficiency and α ₁ -Antitrypsin Deficiency in Patients with Obstructive Emphysema

Abstract

A decreased inhibition of pancreatic elastase has been detected in the serums of six patients with alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. Five have severe clinical and physiological pulmonary emphysema. This observation extends the defect of inhibition by serum to a second, biologically active proteolytic enzyme in this form of familial emphysema.