title: Reduced passage of alpha 2-macroglobulin into malignant serous effusions and diminished antifibrinolytic potential of the fluid.
abstract: The ratio of the relative concentrations of large and small proteins between effusions and serum was measured in patients with benign and malignant effusions. The ratio of values for a large protein, alpha 2 macroglobulin (alpha 2 M) was significantly (p less than 0.0005) lower in the 22 patients with tumoral effusion (0.436 +/- 0.016) and in the 16 patients with transudates (0.388 +/- 0.017) than in the 21 cases with inflammatory exudates (0.838 +/- 0.036) while the ratios between relative concentrations of the lower molecular weight alpha 1 antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) in serous fluids and sera were similar (close to 1.0) in all the above mentioned conditions. Most inflammatory exudates inhibited fibrinolysis in a urokinase activated system, while the activity of the inhibitors of fibrinolysis was very weak in tumoral effusions and in transudates. These findings suggest a rather selective passage of plasma proteins into a tumoral effusion, a fact that might be relevant for a pathogenic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, First Medical Clinic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucuianu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riviş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology; D003124:Colorimetry; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator