[The role of inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor (concentration of serum of childhood) (author's transl)].

The feeble monovalent, humoral protease inhibitor inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor has to be regarded as inhibitogen for different secretory, low-molecular, polyvalent inhibitors. Kallikreine acts as inhibitor-releasing enzyme. The inhibitor levels in the serum were determined for children of different ages. Contrary to adult patients not showing a lack of inhibitogen as consequence of the disease, inhibitogen insufficiencies are rather frequent, particularly for prematures and newborns with respiratory distress and inflammatory diseases. Obviously, in early childhood the production of inhibitogen is not yet in full progress. In case of increased inhibitor consumption or excessive kallikrein consumption this condition results in an inhibitogen insufficiency.