title: [Behavior of leukocyte elastase in chronic inflammatory tonsillar diseases].
abstract: Inflammatory diseases may lead to local tissue injury due to an imbalance between leukocyte elastase and protease inhibitors (alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin). Hence, we determined the plasma level of elastase in patients with chronic tonsillitis using an enzyme-linked immunoassay and compared the results with those obtained from controls. There was a significant elevation of leukocyte elastase in patients with chronic inflammation of the tonsils compared with our controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the elastase assay characterise this method as a reliable one. Hence, the determination of leukocyte elastase in peripheral blood can be useful if the indication for tonsillectomy is in question.
authors: Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Essen.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Zöller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase
vernacular_title: Zum Verhalten der Leukozytenelastase bei chronisch entzündlichen Gaumenmandelerkrankungen.