Hyper-Alpha-2-Macroglobulinemia in Narcotic Addicts

Abstract

Significant increases of serum α-2-macroglobulin (α-2-M) were detected in narcotic addicts presenting at a methadone treatment center. The mean α-2-M level was 341 ± 14 mg/dl compared with 231 ± 8 mg/dl in normal persons (p < 0.01). In a comparable group of alcoholics with laboratory evidence of hepatic dysfunction the mean α-2-M level was 208 ± 10 mg/dl. Although the serum immunoglobulin M content was also substantially elevated in the narcotic-addict group, no correlation was obtained between the serum content of this protein and α-2-M. Similarly, no correlation between α-2-M level and serum zinc content was observed. When the values of the trypsin-binding activity of serum measured in 13 addicts, 15 alcoholics with laboratory evidence of hepatic dysfunction, and 16 normal subjects were plotted against the amount of α-2-M measured in the same subjects, a linear correlation was obtained between trypsin-binding activity and α-2-M. Thus, the significantly increased serum trypsin-binding activity observed in the addicts is that which might be expected if normal α-2-M is being accumulated in large amounts as a result of increased macroglobulin synthesis.