title: Concentration of fibronectin and granulocyte elastase in plasma of patients with systemic connective-tissue diseases.
abstract: The concentration of granulocyte elastase-alpha-1-protease inhibitor (E-AT) complex in plasma is enhanced in inflammatory processes, e.g. in septicaemia and rheumatoid arthritis, being an expression of granulocyte activation during inflammatory response. In the present study we measured E-AT and fibronectin in the plasma of 46 patients with various connective-tissue diseases in relation to the course of the disease. In about 50% of the cases, E-AT was found to be elevated to 2-3 times the normal concentrations, in relation to increasing serum content of C-reactive protein. In follow-ups over 2 years, an elevation of E-AT and a decreasing fibronectin in plasma was found in patients with activated disease. Without relation to other parameters used in connective-tissue diseases, fibronectin was found to be diminished below the normal range in 7 patients with systemic lupus erythematodes and 1 patient with overlapping syndrome. Our results indicate that the concentration of E-AT and fibronectin in plasma may be helpful parameters for judging the activity of connective-tissue diseases.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase