Small airway evaluation in three subjects with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency without diagnosed lung disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e239146
Author(s):  
Thais Ferrari da Cruz ◽  
Rogério Rufino ◽  
Agnaldo Lopes ◽  
Cláudia Henrique Costa

We describe three cases of female subjects (aged 16, 44 and 41 years) with no respiratory symptoms, who have alpha-1 antitripsyn mutation (PiSZ, PiZZ and PiZZ) and who performed traditional pulmonary function tests and the single breath nitrogen washout test. They still did not have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any identifiable change in traditional pulmonary function tests but already have change in nitrogen washout tests. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder associated with early-onset COPD. There is evidence that although patients who have well-preserved FEV1 may already have signs of emphysema associated with symptoms. Therefore, the nitrogen washout test is considered to have more sensitive outcomes than other pulmonary function tests for early investigation of small airways disease and could allow the monitoring pulmonary function and evaluating of therapeutic decision.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Aiello ◽  
Marianna Ghirardini ◽  
Roberta Pisi ◽  
Ilaria Ferrarotti ◽  
Giuseppina Bertorelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary genetic disorder involving lungs in adults, characterized by low serum concentration of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). Several reports indicate that asthma is common in AATD patients, but there are only few data on respiratory function in asthmatic patients with intermediate AATD. The aim of the study is to evaluate lung function in asthmatic outpatients with AATD vs. asthmatic subjects without AATD.Methods We enrolled 57 outpatients affected by mild to moderate asthma from the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. We submitted to genetic analysis the asthmatic outpatients with a serum AAT concentration <113 mg/dL and those with relatives affected by AATD. Subsequently, the study population was split into AATD and not AATD subjects. We assessed lung function through a flow-sensing spirometer and the small airways parameters through an impulse oscillometry system.Results The values of FVC (% predicted) and of the RV/TLC (%) ratio were respectively lower and higher in patients with AATD vs. patients without AATD, showing a significantly greater air trapping (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017 respectively). Moreover, patients with AATD in comparison to patients without AATD showed lower FEV3 (% predicted) and FEV6 (L) values. A significant and positive correlation (p=0.041; r=0.894) occurred between the RV/TLC ratio and the years of smoking in the group of asthmatic patients with AATD.Conclusions AATD predisposes asthmatic heterozygote patients with PI*MZ, PI*MS and intermediate levels of AAT to small airways dysfunction and to increased values of pulmonary air trapping.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e240288
Author(s):  
Gabriela F Santos ◽  
Paul Ellis ◽  
Daniela Farrugia ◽  
Alice M Turner

We report a 64-year-old caucasian woman diagnosed with membranous nephropathy secondary to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). AATD is a rare autosomal codominant genetic disorder. Its clinical manifestations are mostly observed in the lungs, with early-onset emphysema. Nephropathy due to AATD is still very rare and only a few cohort studies have been reported. It has been recognised that alpha-1 antitrypsin has a protective role in the kidneys which enhances the possibility of development of kidney failure, such as nephrotic syndrome, in cases of AATD. Further clinical investigation is needed to understand the relationship between the development of nephropathy, namely membranous nephropathy, and AATD.


Author(s):  
Е.А. Ларшина ◽  
Н.В. Милованова ◽  
Е.А. Каменец

Недостаточность альфа-1-антитрипсина - наследственное заболевание, характеризующееся низким уровнем белка альфа-1-антитрипсина (A1AT) в крови. В основном дефицит A1AT проявляется в виде хронической обструктивной болезни легких (ХОБЛ), эмфиземы, а также поражения печени и сосудов. А1АТ является главным ингибитором сериновых протеаз в крови человека. Недостаточность А1АТ обусловлена мутациями в гене SERPINA1. Наиболее распространенными аллельными вариантами в гене SERPINA1 являются S (p.Glu288Val) и Z (р.Glu366Lys), однако в клинической практике большинство случаев тяжелого дефицита А1АТ связаны с генотипом PIZZ. У пациентов с PIZZ патология легких представляет собой фенотип «потери функции», так как дефицит A1AT приводит к ускоренному разрушению паренхимы легких, приводящему к эмфиземе. При Z-мутации 85% синтезированного белка блокируется в гепатоцитах из-за неправильного сворачивания и полимеризации. Накопление полимеризованного белка в эндоплазматической сети гепатоцитов в свою очередь приводит к хроническим заболеваниям печени у некоторых пациентов: циррозу и злокачественным новообразованиям печени. Дефицит А1АТ является довольно распространенным заболеванием, но выявляется лишь незначительная часть лиц с данной патологией. Недостаточность А1АТ зачастую ошибочно диагностируется как ХОБЛ, бронхиальная астма или криптогенное заболевание печени. Задержка в установлении диагноза составляет обычно более 5 лет (в среднем около 8 лет) что, как правило, связано с плохой осведомленностью врачей, недооценкой его распространенности и вариабельностью клинических проявлений. В настоящее время для лечения дефицита А1АТ с легочными проявлениями возможно применение аугментационной терапии, основанной на внутривенном введении очищенного человеческого А1АТ. Также активно ведется поиск новых препаратов, способных улучшить прогноз у пациентов с патологией печени. Современные подходы в лечении дефицита А1АТ, сосредоточенные на генной терапии, становятся перспективным направлением в лечении как легочной, так и печеночной патологии при дефиците А1АТ. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder characterized by low level of alfa-1-antitripsin protein (A1AT) in the blood. Usually, A1AT deficiency results in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysemas, liver disease and vessels damaging. A1AT is the main inhibitor of serine proteases in human blood. A1AT deficiency is caused by mutations in the gene SERPINA1. The most common SERPINA1 allelic variants are S (p.Glu288Val) and Z (p.Glu366Lys). However, the most of documented severe cases of A1AD are associated with PIZZ genotype. PIZZ genotype patients have loss-of-function phenotype due to accelerated lung parenchyma destruction resulting in emphysema. Z mutation genotype leads to blocking of 85% synthesized protein in hepatocytes due to wrong folding and polymerization. Accumulation of the bodied protein in hepatocytes endoplasmic reticulum results in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and other liver pathologies. A1AT deficiency is a common disorder, however, this diagnosis is established in a small part of the patients. A1AT deficiency is often misdiagnosed as COPD, asthma or сryptogenic liver disease. Usually, due to underestimating the prevalence of the disease and its unspecific symptoms, the diagnosis delay is more than 5 years (on average about 8 years). Nowadays it is possible to treat lung form of A1AT deficiency used the augmentation therapy, that bases on intravenous infusions of pure human A1AT. Also, the active development of new drugs to improve the prognosis in the patients with liver pathology is ongoing. Modern approaches of A1AT deficiency treatment, focused on gene therapy, are becoming a promising direction in the managing of both pulmonary and hepatic pathology with A1AT deficiency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Rigobello ◽  
Simonetta Baraldo ◽  
Mariaenrica Tinè ◽  
Ilaria Ferrarotti ◽  
Angelo Guido Corsico ◽  
...  

Abstract Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder associated to early onset emphysema, mainly imputable to Pi*ZZ genotype. In spite of the serious potential effects, many AATD individuals do not develop emphysema. To identify genes/variants potentially involved in emphysema development we studied 4 AATD families. Each family had at least one affected sibling with emphysema and one non-affected. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was performed on genomic DNA isolated from 9 individuals with AATD (4 affected/5 non-affected). Genetic variants confirmed at least in three families were prioritized using QueryOR and network analysis was used to verify enriched pathways. In affected subjects: 14 genes (57% immune-related) segregated in a recessive model and 21 (29% immune-related) in a dominant model. In non-affected subjects: 21 genes (43% immune-related) segregated in a recessive model and 50 (24% immune-related) in a dominant model. In affected siblings immune genes had an activating function, while where immune-suppressing in non-affected siblings involving antigen processing, MHC-I presentation, TCR and PD-1 signalling. This study describes possible genetic susceptibility factors for emphysema development in AATD, and suggests that gene variants involved in regulation of immune homeostasis and maintenance of self-tolerance contribute to the development or suppression of the disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Aiello ◽  
Ghirardini Marianna ◽  
Pisi Roberta ◽  
Ferrarotti Ilaria ◽  
Bertorelli Giuseppina ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary genetic disorder involving lungs in adults, characterized by low serum concentration of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). Several reports indicate that asthma is common in AATD patients, but there are only few data on respiratory function in asthmatic patients with AATD. The aim of the study is to evaluate lung function in asthmatic outpatients with AATD vs. asthmatic subjects without AATD. Methods: We performed the quantitative analysis of the serum concentration of AAT in 600 outpatients affected by mild to moderate asthma from the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. Fifty-seven of them underwent the genetic analysis subsequently, they were subdivided into AATD and non-AATD subjects. All the AATD patients had a heterozygous genotype, except one (PI*SS). We assessed the lung function through a flow-sensing spirometer and the small airways parameters through an impulse oscillometry system.Results: The values of FVC (% predicted) and of the RV/TLC (%) ratio were respectively lower and higher in patients with AATD vs. patients without AATD, showing a significantly greater air trapping (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017 respectively). Moreover, patients with AATD in comparison to patients without AATD showed lower FEV3 (% predicted) and FEV6 (L) spirometric values, reflecting a smaller airways contribution.Conclusions: AATD in asthmatic heterozygote patients with PI*MZ and PI*MS genotypes was associated with small airways dysfunction and with lung air trapping.


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