Measurement of granulocyte elastase and other parameters after operation for lung cancer

From April, 1990 to March, 1991, granulocyte elastase and other parameters were examined after operations for lung cancer. Four patients died, and nine survived. Five patients with pneumothorax served as controls. Leukocytes, granulocytes, granulocyte elastase, elastase/ granulocyte ratio, AT-III, TAT, α-PI and the respiratory index were measured on the day before operation and on the first, third and fifth days after operation. In the control group, granulocyte elastase remained within normal limits (21-165 μg/l). The survival group had transient increases of elastase on the day after operation, but normal levels by the fifthdays. In the patients who died, elastase levels were above 500 μg/l on the day after operation, and they continued to increase. High elastase levels cause a hypercoagulable state and respiratory disturbances. It is useful to predict DIC and respiratory complications after operations for lung cancer.