Small airways dysfunction is associated to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in patients with asthma
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.