Fecal alpha1--antitrypsin in healthy and intestinal-disorder Thai children.
OBJECTIVE
Determine the normal FA1-AT level in random wet stool of Thai children using RID and NPL, and to study the correlation between RID and NPL methods for measurement of FA1-AT.


METHODS
Random stool samples were collected from healthy children and intestinal-disorders patients. Alpha1-antitrypsin (FA1-AT) in wet stool samples was measured by nephelometry (NPL) and radial-immunodiffusion (RID) methods.


RESULTS
Newborn infants had the highest FA1-AT level during the first day of life and declined to the same level as older children on day 3-4. Median and geometric mean of FA1-AT levels by NPL from healthy children aged 1 month-15 years was 1.23 and 1.11 mg/dL respectively. FA1-AT levels by NPL from children with severe intestinal disorders, displaying median and geometric mean at 6.77 and 12.39 mg/dL respectively, were much higher than healthy children. The RID and NPL methods showed a correlation of r = 0.87 (p < 0.01) and R2 = 0.75.


CONCLUSIONS
Random FA1-AT assay in wet stool is a non-invasive and simple test for supporting diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy.
Tangsilsat
Duangsmorn
D
Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine-Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Atamasirikul
Kalayanee
K
Treepongkaruna
Suporn
S
Bed
Supranee Nathsevee
SN
Sumritsopak
Rungtip
R
Kunakorn
Mongkol
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies; D012016:Reference Values; D013785:Thailand; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin