TY - JOUR
T1 - α1-antitrypsin excretion in stool in normal subjects and in patients with gastrointestinal disorders
AU - Strygler, Bernardo
AU - Nicar, Michael J.
AU - Santangelo, William C.
AU - Porter, Jack L.
AU - Fordtran, John S.
PY - 1990/11
Y1 - 1990/11
N2 - Fecal clearance of plasma α1-antitrypsin is used as a measure of protein leakage into the intestinal tract. In this study, the α1-antitrypsin concentration in stool and the plasma clearance of α1-antitrypsin in normal subjects and in a consecutive series of patients with chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, or unexplained hypoalbuminemia was determined. The normal subjects were studied in their usual state and also when they had diarrhea secondary to ingestion of lactulose, sorbitol, sodium sulfate, or phenolphthalein. The study first concluded that induced diarrhea can cause an increase in α1-antitrypsin clearance; if this is not considered in establishing normal values, there may be an overdiagnosis of excess protein leakage in patients with diarrhea. Second, there is a highly significant statistical correlation (P < 0.001) between α1-antitrypsin clearance and serum albumin concentration. On average, the serum albumin falls below 3.0 g/dL (30 g/L) when the α1-antitrypsin clearance exceeds 180 ml/day, a value that is about threefold higher than the upper limit of normal. Third, three of nine patients with microscopic/collagenous colitis had elevated clearance of α1-antitrypsin; by contrast, abnormal α1-antitrypsin clearance was not found in 23 patients with idiopathic secretory diarrhea. Fourth, fecal α1-antitrypsin concentration is not a reliable index of abnormal α1-antitrypsin clearance.
AB - Fecal clearance of plasma α1-antitrypsin is used as a measure of protein leakage into the intestinal tract. In this study, the α1-antitrypsin concentration in stool and the plasma clearance of α1-antitrypsin in normal subjects and in a consecutive series of patients with chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, or unexplained hypoalbuminemia was determined. The normal subjects were studied in their usual state and also when they had diarrhea secondary to ingestion of lactulose, sorbitol, sodium sulfate, or phenolphthalein. The study first concluded that induced diarrhea can cause an increase in α1-antitrypsin clearance; if this is not considered in establishing normal values, there may be an overdiagnosis of excess protein leakage in patients with diarrhea. Second, there is a highly significant statistical correlation (P < 0.001) between α1-antitrypsin clearance and serum albumin concentration. On average, the serum albumin falls below 3.0 g/dL (30 g/L) when the α1-antitrypsin clearance exceeds 180 ml/day, a value that is about threefold higher than the upper limit of normal. Third, three of nine patients with microscopic/collagenous colitis had elevated clearance of α1-antitrypsin; by contrast, abnormal α1-antitrypsin clearance was not found in 23 patients with idiopathic secretory diarrhea. Fourth, fecal α1-antitrypsin concentration is not a reliable index of abnormal α1-antitrypsin clearance.
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U2 - 10.1016/0016-5085(90)91165-3
DO - 10.1016/0016-5085(90)91165-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 2210245
AN - SCOPUS:0025066491
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 99
SP - 1380
EP - 1387
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 5
ER -