What is Alpha-1?

 

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is a genetic (inherited) condition – it is passed from parents to their children through their genes. Alpha-1 may result in serious lung disease in adults and/or liver disease at any age.

For each trait a person inherits, there are usually two genes; one gene comes from each parent. People with Alpha-1 have received two abnormal alpha-1 antitrypsin genes. One of these abnormal genes came from their mother and one from their father.

Alpha-1 cannot be diagnosed by symptoms or by a medical examination alone; you need to get a simple, reliable blood test to know for sure.

 

  • Alpha-1 is the most common known genetic risk factor for emphysema.
  • Up to 3% of all people diagnosed with COPD may have undetected Alpha-1.
  • Alpha-1 can also lead to liver disease. The most serious liver diseases are cirrhosis and liver cancer.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) recommend that everyone with COPD be tested for Alpha-1.
  • The Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) recommends testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency should be considered in:
    –  Patients diagnosed with COPD before age 65 or with a smoking history of less than 20 pack years.
    –  Individuals with a family history of Alpha-1 along with genetic counselling.
    –  Adult asthma patients with diagnostic uncertainty (ie. persistent obstruction on lung function testing).
The most common signs and symptoms of disease caused by Alpha-1
Symptoms related to the lung:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Chronic bronchitis, which is cough and sputum (phlegm) production that lasts for a long time
  • Recurring chest colds
  • Less exercise tolerance
  • Asthma that can’t be completely reversed with aggressive medical treatment
  • Year-round allergies
  • Bronchiectasis

Symptoms related to the liver:

  • Unexplained liver disease or elevated liver enzymes
  • Eyes and skin turning yellow (jaundice)
  • Swelling of the abdomen (ascites) or legs
  • Vomiting blood (from enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach)
Who gets Alpha-1 lung or liver disease?
  • Alpha-1 has been identified in nearly all populations and ethnic groups. It is estimated that about 1 in every 2,500 Americans have Alpha-1.  It is also estimated that Alpha-1 affects approximately 6,000 Canadians, most of whom remain undiagnosed despite available testing across the country.
  • People with Alpha-1 may remain healthy throughout their lives. Early diagnosis and avoiding risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, can help prevent Alpha-1 from causing disease.
  • An estimated 19 million people in the United States have one normal and one defective alpha-1 gene. People with one normal gene and one defective gene (for example MZ) are called “carriers”. Carriers may pass the defective gene on to their children.
  • Alpha-1 can lead to lung destruction and is often first diagnosed as asthma or smoking-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

 

Alpha-1 Organizations

For The Newly Diagnosed