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Alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin in newborn infants

I. The Influence of Perinatal Complications

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Abstract

The levels of alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin in the plasma of 129 newborns were determined. The infants were divided into 3 groups according to their perinatal history.

In healthy newborns with an uneventful perinatal history the normal values for alpha1-antitrypsin were 1.97±0.44 g/l, and for alpha2-macroglobulin 3.11±0.69 g/l. No changes in these levels were found during the first week of life. The levels of alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin showed significant correlation to each other.

In healthy newborns with different complications in the obstetric history the levels of alpha1-antitrypsin were not influenced, whereas alpha2-macroglobulin decreased slightly during the first week of life. The levels of alpha1-antitrypsin and of alpha2-macroglobulin showed no further correlation to each other.

In sick term and preterm newborns (n=18) alpha1-antitrypsin was increased in 5 of 7 babies suffering from bacterial infections and lowered in 4 of 9 cases with respiratory disturbances. Alpha2-macroglobulin was lowered in 15 babies. These results indicate different kinetics of the two antiproteases in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Childrens Hospital B of the University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, D-4000, Düsseldorf, Germany

    U. Göbel, C. Petrich, H. von Voss & L. Schmelzer

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  1. U. Göbel
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  2. C. Petrich
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  3. H. von Voss
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  4. L. Schmelzer
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With support of the Landesamt für Forschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

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Göbel, U., Petrich, C., von Voss, H. et al. Alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr 129, 117–124 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442371

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442371

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