[Concentration and activity of cathepsin D in the blood plasma and serum of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Concentration and activity of cathepsin D are markedly higher in the blood plasma of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm than in the blood plasma of healthy subjects. The difference results from release of big amounts of procathepsin D and increased release of the active enzyme into circulating blood of patients with aortic aneurysm. Concentration and activity of cathepsin D in the blood serum of patients with aortic aneurysm are also higher than in the serum of healthy subjects. Concentration and activity of cathepsin D are markedly higher in the blood serum of patients with aortic aneurysm and in healthy subjects as compared to the blood plasma. The difference is due to the release of marked amounts of procathepsin D and cathepsin D from morphotic elements in vitro during blood coagulation and clot retraction.