title: Hyper-alpha-2-macroglobulinemia in narcotic addicts.
abstract: Significant increases of serum alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha-2-M) were detected in narcotic addicts presenting at a methadone treatment center. The mean alpha-2-M level was 341 +/- 14 mg/dl compared with 231 +/- 8 mg/dl in normal persons (p less than 0.01). In a comparable group of alcoholics with laboratory evidence of hepatic dysfunction the mean alpha-2-M level was 208 +/- 10 mg/dl. Although the serum immunoglobulin M content was also substantially elevated in the narcotic-addict group, no correlation was obtained between the serum content of this protein and alpha-2-M. Similarly, no correlation between alpha-2-M level and serum zinc content was observed. When the values of the trypsin-binding activity of serum measured in 13 addicts, 15 alcoholics with laboratory evidence of hepatic dysfunction, and 16 normal subjects were plotted against the amount of alpha-2-M measured in the same subjects, a linear correlation was obtained between trypsin-binding activity and alpha-2-M. Thus, the significantly increased serum trypsin-binding activity observed in the addicts is that which might be expected if normal alpha-2-M is being accumulated in large amounts as a result of increased macroglobulin synthesis.
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D009294:Narcotics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009294:Narcotics; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D015032:Zinc