Alpha-1 antitrypsin and electrolytes in some cases of diarrhoea.

Fifty patients suffering from diarrhea were subjected together with a control group of 20 normal subjects to full clinical examination, stool analysis for parasites and bacteriological examination to identify pathogenic bacteria. Fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin, fecal Na+ and K+ and serum albumin were also estimated. The results showed a significant increase in the fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin and fecal electrolytes in all cases of diarrhea except the simple intestinal bilharzial cases, in which the fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin showed an inverse proportionality with fecal electrolytes. The serum albumin showed a negative correlation with fecal alpha-1 antitrypsin, however, serum albumin cannot be taken as a parameter for protein loosing enteropathy.