Lung function studies in asymptomatic individuals with moderately (Pi SZ) and severely (Pi Z) reduced levels of alpha1-antitrypsin.
Extensive physiological evaluation of lung function were conducted in two groups of asymptomatic individuals with deficiencies of alpha1-antitrypsin: seven subjects with phenotype Pi SZ and six subjects with phenotype Pi Z. Four symptomatic individuals of Pi Z type were also investigated. The asymptomatic individuals of both SZ and Z phenotypes revealed reduction of elastic recoil, hypoventilation and hypoperfusion of the lung bases with increased closing and nitogen wash-out volumes. No signs of bronchial obstruction were observed. The asymptomatic Pi SZ subjects revealed as many signs of subclinical disease as did the asymptomatic Pi Z subjects. These data suggest that Pi SZ subjects are at increased risk of emphysema similar to Pi Z subjects.
D000328:Adult; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005105:Expiratory Reserve Volume; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012119:Respiration; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency