Serum and Hepatic Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Adult Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Serum Trypsin Inhibitory Capacity (STIC) was measured in 50 healthy subjects and 50 adult cases of biopsy proved cirrhosis of the liver. Liver biopsy of all the 50 cirrhosis cases were examined for intracellular deposits of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in the form of intracytoplasmic PAS-positive diastase resistant globules. STIC was found normal in all the controls and 37 cirrhotics. Eight cirrhosis cases had intermediate (heterozygous) deficiency and five had severe (homozygous) deficiency. PAS-positive globules were found in all the five cases with homozygous AAT deficiency but in none of the others. There appears to be a strong association of cirrhosis with both heterozygous and homozygous AAT deficiency, although AAT deposits in the liver may not be present in heterozygous cases. The possible mechanism of the association of cirrhosis with AAT deficiency has been discussed.