Alpha-1-antitrypsin Deficiency and Pulmonary Disease

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Abstract
The early development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in individuals with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency may be potentially preventable. A general screening for alpha-1-antitrypsin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their family members seems advisable because these families have a high incidence of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. After a comparison study of electrophoresis, trypsin inhibitory capacity, phenotyping, and radial immunodiffusion technics, the authors recommend radial immunodiffusion as a screening test for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. It is simple, correlates well with trypsin inhibitory capacity and phenotyping, and provides quantitative information for preliminary classification. A parallel determination of stimulated and non-stimulated alpha-1-antitrypsin levels is suggested.

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