Alpha-1 antitrypsin and serum albumin levels in tear fluid of healthy subjects and in persons with conjunctival diseases

Alpha-1 antitrypsin and serum albumin levels were measured in the tear fluids in 81 healthy subjects and 142 patients with conjunctival diseases. The levels of the two proteins were independent of age and sex. They were found to be increased in all the conjunctival diseases studied excepting epithelial xerosis. The extent of the increase correlated well with the severity of the diseases. The alpha-1 antitrypsin and serum albumin levels in tears showed return to normal levels with clinical improvement. The present study indicates that the markedly raised level of alpha-1 antitrypsin in tears in inflamed eyes is mainly due to the passive leakage of the protein from the congested conjunctival blood vessels in to tear fluids and not due to local release or production.