title: Low serum alpha-1-antitrypsin level as a contributory factor of combined emphysema in silicosis.
abstract: In order to evaluate low serum alpha-1-antitrypsin level as a contributory factor of combined emphysema in silicotic patients, serum alpha-1-antitrypsin analysis was carried out in 80 patients with silicosis. Low serum alpha-1-antitrypsin level was found in 5 patients. Large opacities were observed roentgenologically in only 1 out of these 5 cases in contrast to 31 of the other 75 cases. Also the suggestive findings for the emphysema were showed in 4 of these 5 cases while such findings were found on their chest X-ray films in only 43 of the other 75 cases. FEV 1.0% below 50 were calculated in 3 of the 5 cases, on the contrary in 22 of the 75 cases. RV above 50% predicted value was showed by all the 5 low antitrypsin patients, in contrast to only 25 of other 74 cases. The silicotic patients with low serum alpha-1-antitrypsin concentration are most likely to have an association with a high incidence of complicated emphysema.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004646:Emphysema / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood; D011859:Radiography; D012829:Silicosis / Q000150:complications*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin