Abstract
Protein-losing enteropathy is defined as a diverse group of disorders associated with excessive loss of serum protein through the GI tract.
Protein loss through the GI tract had been measured by the fecal excretion of labeled protein following intravenous administration of radioactive materials.
However, this method has limits such as the requisite radioactive exposure and the long experimental period.
α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) is mainly synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes. Also, because α1-AT inhibits various proteases, it is neither absorbed nor physiologically secreted into the intestine. Therefore, measurement of its fecal loss is indicative of the rate of loss of similar sized serum proteins. Fecal α1-AT clearance is a more reliable marker than fecal α1-AT concentration. α1-AT clearance can be calculated by measuring the α1-AT levels in both serum and a 24-hourly stool sample.
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Kim, E.R. (2022). The Principles and Practice of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Clearance. In: Chun, H.J., Seol, SY., Choi, MG., Cho, J.Y. (eds) Small Intestine Disease. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7239-2_32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7239-2_32
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