Who should be tested for Alpha-1?

• Newborns, children, and adults with unexplained liver disease
• People with a family history of liver disease
• Relatives of a person diagnosed with Alpha-1
• Everyone with emphysemaObstructive airway disease in which the walls of the alveoli (air sacs) are damaged or destroyed., bronchiectasis, chronicA condition or illness that arises slowly over days or weeks and may or may not resolve with treatment. It is the opposite of acute. obstructive pulmonaryMedical term referring to the lungs. disease (COPD), chronicA condition or illness that arises slowly over days or weeks and may or may not resolve with treatment. It is the opposite of acute. bronchitis, or asthma that is incompletely reversible after aggressive treatment

The Liver and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency – Alpha-1 Foundation

Until it is appropriate to begin screening the general population for Alpha-1, there are some guidelines as to who should be tested for this condition. These include individuals with:

• All individuals with a diagnosis of emphysemaObstructive airway disease in which the walls of the alveoli (air sacs) are damaged or destroyed., chronicA condition or illness that arises slowly over days or weeks and may or may not resolve with treatment. It is the opposite of acute. bronchitis, unexplained bronchiectasis, or chronicA condition or illness that arises slowly over days or weeks and may or may not resolve with treatment. It is the opposite of acute. obstructive pulmonaryMedical term referring to the lungs. disease (COPD)
• Family history of Alpha-1
• Family history of emphysemaObstructive airway disease in which the walls of the alveoli (air sacs) are damaged or destroyed., bronchiectasis, liver disease, or panniculitis
• ChronicA condition or illness that arises slowly over days or weeks and may or may not resolve with treatment. It is the opposite of acute. asthma in which lung function does not return to normal with therapy in adolescents and adults
• Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
• Unexplained liver disease
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA or C-ANCA positive vasculitis)
• Necrotizing panniculitis

Big Fat Reference Guide – AlphaNet