Evaluation of activity and phenotype of alpha1-antitrypsin  in a civil population with respiratory complications  following exposure to sulfur mustard 20 years ago.
OBJECTIVE
The reduced alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) activities of some phenotypes have been suggested as contributing to the development of respiratory diseases.


METHODS
One hundred patients with respiratory disease following exposure to sulfur mustard were divided into two groups of 50 based on their respiratory symptoms and compared with a healthy control group. AAT phenotypes were determined in the plasma of all patient and control subjects by isoelectric focusing (IEF).


RESULTS
Mean AAT activities in patient and control groups were 3.4 +/- 0.3 and 4.2 +/- 0.1 micromol min(-1) ml(-1), respectively (p < 0.001). No phenotypic alterations were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The difference in the clinical pulmonary symptoms of the two groups was attributed to reduced AAT activity, but this was not manifested as phenotypic changes identifiable by IEF.
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran.
Majid
M
Shohrati
Navvab
N
Shamspour
Fatemeh
F
Babaei
Ali Amini
AA
Harandi
Afshin
A
Mohsenifar
Jafar
J
Aslani
Mostafa
M
Ghanei
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D010641:Phenotype; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D009151:Mustard Gas