Alpha 1-antitrypsin and its phenotype in patients with asthma and aspirin hypersensitivity

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A-1-AT) levels were determined in 46 patients with aspirin sensitive asthma using the Eriksson method. The control group was made up of 17 asthmatics without aspirin sensitivity and 78 healthy volunteers. In 30 patients with aspirin asthma the phenotype of A-1-AT was determined using the Laurell method. The serum A-1-AT level was significantly higher in asthmatics in comparison with the healthy subjects. In the 30 subjects in whom the phenotype of A-1-AT was determined none of the phenotypes characteristic for lowered A-1-AT level were found more frequently than in groups without sensitivity to aspirin.