title: [Plasma concentration of polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in patients with gastric ulcer].
abstract: To test the possible participation of activated leukocytes in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer, plasma levels of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (PMN-EC), a discerning indicator for the activation of leukocytes, were determined in patients with gastric ulcer. Plasma levels of PMN-EC in patients with gastric ulcer (185.2 +/- 21.6 micrograms/l, mean +/- S.E.M.) were significantly higher than those in normal healthy subjects (67.6 +/- 4.4 micrograms/l, p less than 0.01). On the other hand, plasma levels of C-reactive protein and sialic acid increased in only 17.8% and 7.1% of patients with gastric ulcer, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between PMN-EC and the plasma levels of CRP or sialic acid. Plasma levels of PMN-EC decreased with the healing of the ulcerative lesion as judged by gastro-endoscopic observation. These findings suggested that activation of leukocytes might deeply be correlated with the pathologic mechanism of gastric ulceration and the measurement of PMN-EC might be useful for monitoring the patients with gastric ulcer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Medical School.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takatsuki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase