Neutrophil elastase: its activity and content, the levels of anti-elastase in children with bronchopulmonary diseases

Abstract

Purpose of research: Assessing the system of neutrophil elastase (NE) − the activity and content of antiproteases (anti-NE) in children with congenital bronchial pathology (CBP), lung pathology (CLP) and cystic fibrosis (CF). Patients and Methodology: 59 patients, 1−17 years, were studied, all with CBL patients with CLP demonstrated somewhat lesser levels and the CF patients showed still lesser levels. The CF patients’ levels of NE were 2.5−3 times higher than those in the C (in all cases p< 0.05−0.01). NE level in groups showing considerable differences in the enzyme content did not differ much from the C. It was only in patients with CLP that the NE activity was 2 times lower than in the C, while in others it slightly exceeded the C data. The level of anti-NE in CF patients was 2 times higher than in C and CB&LP. Conclusion: It was found that the NE amounts and activity in the C was relatively on the same level. In CBP and CLP patients, the amount of NE was 10 and 5 times (respectively) higher than the data for the activity of the enzyme, while in the CF patients, it was only 3 times higher, with the level of anti-NE being 2 times lower than in other groups, which, evidently, is the reason for overproduction of viscous bronchial secretion in CF cases.