[The phenotypes of haptoglobin and the level of acute-phasic proteins in the sera of children with local form of intrathoracic tuberculosis].
Seventy-seven children aged 4-12 years who had local forms of primary intrathoracic tuberculosis were examined. On admission to and discharge from hospital, haptoglobin (Hp) was phenotyped and the content of Hp was measured, and the activity of alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) was determined. In all ill children, the distribution of Hp phenotypes did not differ from the normal level, but all patients with tuberculous pleurisy were found to be carriers of Hp1 gene (among them the phenotype Hp 2-2 was absent and the minor variant of Hp 1-1 was detectable in half the cases). In patients of this group, alpha1-AT acted as a typical acute phase reagent and remained moderately increased by the termination of treatment in the vast majority of the examinees. On the contrary, on admission the content of Hp was to be decreased. Its increase was natural only in patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The level of Hp was associated with its phenotype. Carriers of Hp1-1 had elevated levels of Hp in the overwhelming majority of cases whereas those of Hp 2-2 had its decreased levels. It is concluded that in children with primary tuberculosis, the serum level of Hp may not be used as an indicator of the activity of the process. Possible causes and the values of decreased levels of circulating Hp in children with primary tuberculosis are discussed in the paper.