[Alpha 1-protease inhibitor: characteristics of its biochemical and biological properties and its level in various diseases (review of the literature and personal observations)].

The authors review biological and biochemical properties and the clinical importance of the serum proteases alpha 1-inhibitor with broad-range antiproteolytic activity. Congenital deficiency of this protein is a frequent enough condition linked with predisposition to some diseases of the lungs and liver. Early determination of the deficiency of alpha 1-Pi is fairly urgent, since it permits the early administration of the preventive measures and substitution therapy. The immunochemical technique makes it possible to determine all the varieties of alpha 1-Pi, as they are antigenically similar. Sera from 267 patients with different diseases were examined. The content of alpha 1-Pi was found to be elevated in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and to be lowered in bronchial asthma. In multiple myeloma and pollinoses, no alterations in the alpha 1-Pi content were recorded.