alpha-1 antitrypsin


alpha-1 antitrypsin

A 54-kD glycoprotein that inhibits proteolytic enzymes (proteases), trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastases in lysosomes, plasmin, thrombin, collagenase and others; serum A1AT is a so-called acute-phase reactant.
Increased A1AT
Inflammation, liver injury, increased oestrogen, pregnancy, malignancy, corticosteroid therapy.
 
Decreased A1AT
Heterozygous A1AT deficiency, emphysema, prematurity, protein-losing disorders; by immunohistochemistry, A1AT stains atypical fibroxanthoma, granular cell tumour and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.
 
Ref range
2–4 g/L