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Levels of Free Granulocyte Elastase in Bronchial Secretions from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: Effect of Antimicrobial Treatment Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Suter, S. ; Schaad, U. B. ; Tegner, H. ; Ohlsson, K. ; Desgrandchamps, D. ; Waldvogel, F. A.

In: Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1986, vol. 153, no. 5, p. 902-909

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    Title
    • Levels of Free Granulocyte Elastase in Bronchial Secretions from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: Effect of Antimicrobial Treatment Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    Author
    • Suter, S.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    • Schaad, U. B.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    • Tegner, H.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    • Ohlsson, K.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    • Desgrandchamps, D.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    • Waldvogel, F. A.. Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva, Geneva, Bern, Switzerland, Malmö, Sweden
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1986, vol. 153, no. 5, p. 902-909. The University of Chicago Press
    Other Version
    Classification
    • Health
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:297488
    Summary
    Large amounts of free granulocyte elastase (GE), an enzyme capable of mediating airway damage, have been found in bronchial secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This finding indicates an imbalance between GE and its antiproteases, α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) and bronchial mucosal inhibitor (BMI), in the airways of these individuals. The effect of intravenous antimicrobial treatment against P. aeruginosa on activity and concentration of GE, BMI, and α1-PI was evaluated in 30 treatment courses of 20 patients with cystic fibrosis. Although sputum volume and level of immunoreactive GE decreased and concentrations of α1-PI and BMI increased significantly (P < .05), a high level of free GE persisted. No active α1-PI and BMI were detectable after treatment. High levels of GE correlated with a poor pulmonary condition (rs = .98, P < .001). In vitro, elastolytic activity of bronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis was significantly inhibited by eglin C and an oxidation-resistant variant of α1-PI, both compounds currently produced by recombinant DNA technology