Micro-methods for serial determinations of elastin metabolism parameters in blood plasma and serum.

Micro-methods are described for the serial determinations of elastin metabolism related parameters in human serum or plasma samples: serum elastase activity, elastase inhibitor titers and elastin peptide conc-s. These methods were used in an epidemiological study (the EVA study, " Etude du vieillissement vasculaire") carried out in Nantes, west of France on several thousand individuals. Blood samples obtained from the first-1389 individuals (574 males, 815 females) were used for the determinations. In order to carry out this large number of determinations previously described procedures had to be modified. These methods used for the large serial determinations of the above mentioned three elastin metabolism related serum (or plasma) parameters are described because of their potential interest for serial clinical investigations.