α1-Antichymotrypsin in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Serum al-antichymotrypsin (α1-ACT) of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis was studied by means of single radial immunodiffusion method. There was a significant elevation of the α1-ACT concentration in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and positive relationships were observed between the concentrations of α1-ACT and of other glycoproteins such as α1-acid glycoprotein and α1-antitrypsin in individual patients, and between C-reactive protein (CRP) rates and the α1-ACT concentrations in individual specimens. These facts suggest that α1-ACT belongs to a group of acute phase proteins like α1-antitrypsin or CRP. An inverse proportional correlation was revealed between α1-ACT and fibrinolytic activity. No influences were observed on the α1-ACT concentration, activity index or articular index by the oral administra-tion of αchymotrypsin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.