title: Diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy by gastrointestinal clearance of alpha1-antitrypsin.
abstract: Alpha1-antitrypsin was assessed, in 10 patients with protein-losing enteropathy and 13 control subjects, as an endogenous marker of plasma-protein loss into the gastrointestinal tract. Both faecal alpha1-A.T. concentrations and faecal alpha1-A.T. clearance were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Wtih clearance there was no overlap between the groups. Over 10 days the normal gastrointestinal clearance of alpha1-A.T. was 3.07 +/- 2.25 (S.D.) ml/day. Measurement of alpha1-A.T. clearance is easy and requires no radioisotopes.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D011178:Postgastrectomy Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin