h3Definition/h3pα-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder that manifests as pulmonary emphysema, liver cirrhosis and, rarely, as the skin disease panniculitis, or as vasculitis and is characterised by low serum levels of AAT, the main protease inhibitor in human serum./ph3Key messages/h3pThink about AATD if your patient had emphysema at younger age./ppAssess the levels of blood AAT to ascertain the diagnosis by the finding of reduced levels./ppRefer the patient to a Department with experience in lung/liver manifestations of AATD./ppFollow the patient longitudinally in collaboration with the reference center. Issues to consider are replacement therapy (if needed or available) and clinical evolution toward respiratory or liver failure./p
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