The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommends screening all COPD patients for Alpha-1 deficiency.¹ Recent data from the Respiratory & Allergic Disease Foundation (RAD) further support widespread testing of patients suffering from COPD and other chronic lung disorders.² In a survey of patient data from 40 pulmonologists treating 454 patients^*, 3.3% had abnormal test values when tested for Alpha-1 deficiency. Of those, 14% had asthma without COPD, suggesting that all asthma patients may be candidates for screening.²

^*Patients had one or more of the following: persistent asthma; COPD; and emphysema; in addition, they had not been screened for Alpha-1 deficiency prior to survey; and had an FEV1 and/or FEV:FVC <70%.

Warning Signs of Alpha-1 Deficiency

Don't let Alpha-1 deficiency go undiagnosed-recognize the warning signs^1,†:

• Early-onset emphysema (at or less than 45 years of age)
• Emphysema in the absence of a recognized risk factor (smoking, occupational dust exposure, etc.)
• Unexplained liver disease
• Necrotizing panniculitis
• Anti-proteinase 3-positive vasculitis (C-ANCA [anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody]-positive vasculitis)
• Family history of any of the following: emphysema, bronchiectasis, liver disease, or panniculitis
• Bronchiectasis without evident etiology

If you have a patient with one or more of these warning signs, test for Alpha-1.

^†Adapted from ATS/ERS statement, 2003.