title: Relation of functional characteristics and serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) concentration in patients with PiMM phenotype and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relation of AAT phenotype and COPD still raises lots of controversy. In this study we aimed to investigate relation lung function characteristics, AAT serum level and COPD in smoking and non smoking population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective non-randomized study in which we evaluated 45 patients with severe (stage IV) COPD. In all patients we determined AAT phenotype, serum AAT levels and lung function tests. We correlated findings in relation to the smoking status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were MM type homozygotes. Serum AAT concentrations were within the reference values, amounting to 1.66g/l in smokers and 1.80g/l in nonsmokers. There was no significant correlation between serum AAT concentrations and lung function parameters. We have observed the higher mean values of ITGV, RV, TLC and RV/TLC in smokers and a statistically significant difference only in ITGV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All of the investigated patients with severe COPD were MM type homozygotes with normal plasma level of AAT. There was no significant correlation between the phenotype and severity of COPD. We did not find significant relation of plasma AAT level and lung function impairment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. bojanzaric@neobee.net
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stojčević
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrijević
authors.forename: Ilija
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andrijević
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuruc
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Veselinović
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salatić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004646:Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin