A 24-year old man with persistent progressive breathlessness: early onset COPD.
We describe the case of a 24-year old male who had been a heavy smoker since the age of 9 and who presented with an 8-year history of respiratory symptoms. He was having treatment for asthma. Spirometric studies and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans confirmed COPD with centrilobular emphysema. His blood level of alpha-1-antitrypsin was within the normal range. Early onset emphysema in smokers with a normal alpha-1-antitrypsin has been previously described. However, this case is, as far as we know, one of the youngest cases ever reported.
Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Chief of the COPD Clinic, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, India. gparkas@yahoo.co.in
Prem Parkash
PP
Gupta
Dipti
D
Agarwal
D000328:Adult; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004646:Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood
C043392:SERPINA1 protein, human; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin