title: Simplified determination of intestinal protein excretion based on alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance.
abstract: Intestinal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance in 6 healthy controls and 21 patients with Crohn's disease was measured simultaneously by two different methods. Faecal alpha 1-antitrypsin loss, determined conventionally by weight and alpha 1-antitrypsin concentration of the homogenized three day stool was compared with the faecal alpha 1-antitrypsin loss, which was calculated from weight of the three day stool sample and the mean alpha 1-antitrypsin concentration determined in three 1 g aliquots of the morning stool obtained at the three consecutive days during the collecting period. There was a significant correlation when comparing faecal alpha 1-antitrypsin loss (y = 0.96x + 10; r = 0.952) and intestinal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance (y = 1.05x - 6.5; r = 0.974) measured by the different methods. Filling the aliquots by a standardized spoon into a vial prepared with a defined volume of solvent makes it possible to take a diluted, homogenized, and centrifuged stool sample out of the vial by the laboratory staff avoiding open faecal work up. The simplified method of measuring intestinal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance permits to integrate the determination of enteric protein loss into routine diagnostics comparable to the faecal occult blood method.
authors.affiliation: Universität München, Universitätsklinik Mainz.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karbach
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Singe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ewe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin