PREDICTIVE VALUE OF a1-ANTITRYPSIN IN EGYPTIAN CHILDREN INFECTED WITH GIARDIASIS

Abstract

Giardia lamblia is one of the most common intestinal parasites in infants and children.

Fecal excretion of alpha-1-antitrypsin (F ;A.A. T.) can be used as an endogenous marker of enteric protein loss since its molecular weight . - .

! r--- approximates that of albumen and it resists intestinal proteolysis

(Crawford, 1973).

This study aims at evaluating F.A.A•T:. as a predictive test for the degree of protein loss in case of Giardia lamblia infection.

The study was performed in the outpatient clinic . of Ain Shams

University Hospitals, Pediatric Department.

The sample was chosen care..fully as follows: 75 children (62 children as test group, 13 children as_control group),

the mean age in the test group was (6.18) years old, while (7.65) years was ' the mean age in the control group.

The following was done for each child in the study:

.. L--,/l-

1/ 2-

3-

4-

Full medical history taking. Complete clinical examination with stress on: growth parameters as: height, and body weight. . Height Measunng Body Mass Index (B.M.1.) = (Weight)2 •

Laboratory stool examination.