title: Perioperative fluctuation in plasma levels of granulocyte elastase and alpha-1-antitrypsin: the influence of the severity of surgical intervention and their effect on the respiratory index.
abstract: In order to examine whether granulocyte elastase is related to surgical stress and postoperative respiratory function, the perioperative plasma levels of granulocyte elastase and alpha 1-antitrypsin were periodically measured in 49 patients who underwent various operations and the correlation between these levels and the respiratory index was examined. A strong correlation between elevated plasma levels of granulocyte elastase and the degree of aggressiveness of surgery was quite conspicuous; as the operative intervention became more severe, the plasma levels of granulocyte elastase were higher. The plasma level of alpha 1-antitrypsin was in inverted relation to granulocyte elastase. Moreover, marked and prolonged elevation of plasma granulocyte elastase levels induced postoperative pulmonary complications. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the plasma level of granulocyte elastase and the respiratory index. Elevated granulocyte elastase and/or decreased alpha 1-antitrypsin may therefore be implicated in the etiology of postoperative respiratory dysfunction. Thus, an abnormal elevation of plasma granulocyte elastase may allude the existence of postoperative respiratory dysfunction.
authors: Department of Surgery, Aizu Prefectural General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Shimanuki
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sakurabayashi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012119:Respiration; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D010100:Oxygen