[Serum neutrophil elastase and activity of its inhibitors in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Elastaza neitrofilov v syvorotke krovi i aktivnost' ee ingibitorov u bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh.

The paper presents the results of determination of some parameters that characterize the proteolytic and phosphohydrolase activities of neutrophils, as well as the levels of plasma inhibitors of neutrophilic elastase in 76 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Evidence is provided that the pretreatment activity of serum neutrophilic elastase and the levels of neutrophilic cationic proteins and alkaline phosphatase are increased in the patients. There is a trend for these parameters to become normal during effective treatment. It has been ascertained that the activity of the major elastase inhibitor, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, is much enhanced in patients with acute and subacute pulmonary tuberculosis, but is the same as the normal vales in patients with torpid tuberculosis.

[Leukocyte elastase in blood plasma from tuberculosis patients and its role in disturbances of blood coagulation regulatory processes]. / Elastaza leikotsitov v plazme krovi bol'nykh tuberkulezom i ee rol' v narushenii reguliatsii protsessov svertyvaniia krovi.

UNLABELLED: 53 patients with lung tuberculosis were divided in 3 groups in accordance with severity of disease. Leukocyte elastase, cationic proteins in neutrophils, activities of alpha 1-proteinase and alpha 2-macroglobulin were determined in patients' plasma. Thromboelastographic, coagulating, fibrinolytic indices, and antithrombin III activity were also determined in 28 patients of all 3 groups. Results demonstrated the high level of leukocyte elastase (6-fold more than normal) in plasma of patients with acute tuberculosis process. This group of patients demonstrated activation of intravascular coagulation proceeded on the background of significant decrease (up to 60%) of AT III activity. CONCLUSION: Acuity and severity of tuberculosis process in lung may be characterized by high activity of leukocyte elastase. Degranulating activity of neutrophils and releasing of elastase are the reason of AT III deficiency and increasing of intravascular coagulating activity in tuberculosis patients.