α1-PROTEINASE INHIBITOR PHENOTYPES IN PRETERM NEWBORNS

Abstract

α- proteinase inhibitor (α1 PI) phenotypes were determined by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel in 305 preterm newborns and 109 their mothers, special attention being paid to the presence of Z allele responsible for deficiency of this protein. The newborns were divided in four groups according to anthropometric data: 1) appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 2) small for birth weight (SBW), 3) small for birth length (SBL), and 4) small for gestational age (SGA). Prevalence of Z allele (2,95%) in the total group of preterm newborns did not differ significantly from its prevalence in population study (1,7396). Z allele was more prevalent (5,4596) in preterm newborns with infections, birth defects (5,88%) and with combination of these pathological conditions (6,14%). Especially high prevalence (15%) of Z allele was encountered in SBW newborns with infections. We suggest that prematurity and α1PI deficiency (phenotypes PI MZ and PI ZZ) are high risk factors for neonatal morbidity.