Elastase and trypsin were compared for the assay of human serum α1-antitrypsin. (1) For distinguishing MM and MZ types, the combination of concentration and elastase inhibitory capacity was more accurate than the combination of concentration and trypsin inhibitory capacity. (2) Compared to type MM serum, ZZ serum was at least 50 times more deficient in elastase inhibitory capacity than in trypsin inhibitory capacity. Since excessive elastase activity may be causally related to emphysema, the demonstration that the serum of a ZZ individual may be more deficient in serum elastase inhibition than in trypsin inhibition may have pathogenetic significance.
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