Serum protease inhibitors in opisthorchiasis, hepatoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and other liver diseases.

ABSTRACT

Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin increased significantly in patients suffering from liver diseases hepatoma, amoebic liver abscess, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of the head of pancreas including liver fluke infection (opisthorchiasis). Marked increase of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin were found in cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of the head of pancreas, amoebic liver abscess, hepatic cirrhosis and hepatoma. alpha 2-macroglobulin increased markedly in hepatic cirrhosis. The concentrations of protease inhibitors found in opisthorchiasis were only moderately elevated.