J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 83(6): 572-581, 1982

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Original article

STUDIES ON SERUM α₁-ANTITRYPSIN FOR SCREENING TEST OF CARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS AND THE BILIARY TRACT

Isoelectric focusing in a thin layer polyacrylamide gel sheet was used to separate the main bands (No.4, 5, 6) of serum α₁-antitrypsin (α₁-AT) in 45 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas, 43 with carcinoma of the biliary tract, 78 with chronic pancreatitis, 17 with hepatoma, 33 with carcinoma of the stomach and 58 controls (healthy adults and blood donors).
Different α₁-AT banding pattern (α₁-AT-B.P.) were observed and these differences were quantified by comparing the densities of the 4, 5 and 6 bands in each study.
The results were as follows :
1) There was no significant difference in the α₁-AT-B.P between controls and patients with chronic pancreatitis, hepatoma and carcinoma of the stomach.
2) Patients with either carcinoma of the pancreas or biliary tract had significantly abnormal α₁-AT-B.P.s (p＜0.001).
3) In patients with carcinoma of the pancreas and biliary tract, 89.4% gave an abnormal pattern, 4.2% an indeterminate pattern and 6.4% a normal α₁-AT-B.P..
4) There was no difference in the α₁-AT-B.P. between patients with operable and inoperable carcinoma of the pancreas and biliary tract.
5) Follow up studies showed that when the α₁-AT-B.P. reverted to normal following resection of pancreatic and biliary carcinoma, the prognosis was more favorable.
It is suggested that determination of the α₁-AT-B .P. may be useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with pancreatic and biliary carcinoma.

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