1989 年 6 巻 3 号 p. 221-225
Postroperative changes in the plasma levels of granulocytic elastase and superoxide dismutase were examined clinically. Seven patients who had undergone cholecystectomy and eight patients who had undergone subtotal esophageal resection were considered. The protease inhibitor ulinastatin was administered to four of the latter patients. The levels of granulocytic elastase were elevated, and those of superoxide dismutase, decreased, in the non-medicated patients who had undergone esophageal resection (p<0.05). Furthermore, in the patients given the daily medication of 3×105 units of urinastatin for more than 3 days postoperatively, the elevation of granulocytic elastase levels and the decline of the superoxide dismutase levels were markedly suppressed (p<0.05). On the other hand, granulocytic elastase levels of the plasma to which ulinastatin had been added in vitro did not decrease. It is considered that the medicament of ulinastatin may be useful in the prevention of tissue injury caused by granulocytic elastase in cases where a disproportion of proteases and endogenous protease inhibitors exists.
