[Value of the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in pediatric oncologic patients with fever].

The elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E-alpha 1-PI) is a well known, sensitive indicator of infection. The significance of this parameter was investigated in 12 febrile paediatric-oncological patients. With neutrophil counts greater than 500/microliters infections caused a definitive increase in E-alpha 1-PI serving as an additional diagnostic parameter. E-alpha 1-PI provided no additional information in situations of sepsis with leukopenia and simultaneous agranulocytosis. In patients with metastatic tumours, the assay of E-alpha 1-PI may differentiate between infection-related and tumour-related serological disturbances.