title: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in COPD Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder associated with early onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disease. It is also a highly under-diagnosed condition. As early diagnosis could prompt specific interventions such as smoking cessation, testing of family members, genetic counselling and use of replacement therapy, screening programs are needed to identify affected patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of severe AATD in COPD patients by routine dried blood spot testing and subsequent genotyping in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels below an established threshold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of adult COPD patients attending the Hospital Dr. Antonio Cetrángolo (Buenos Aires, Argentina) between 2009 and 2012. The study consisted of capillary blood collection via finger stick to determine AAT levels, clinical evaluation and lung function tests. Genotype was determined in AAT-deficient patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,002 patients were evaluated, of whom 785 (78.34%) had normal AAT levels, while low AAT levels were found in 217 (21.66%). Subsequent genotyping of the latter sub-group found: 15 (1.5%, 95% CI 0.75-2.25) patients with a genotype associated with severe AATD, of whom 12 were ZZ (1.2%, 95% CI 0.52-1.87) and 3 SZ (0.3%, 95% CI 0-0.64). The remaining 202 patients were classified as: 29 Z heterozygotes (2.89%, 95% CI 1.86-3.93), 25 S heterozygotes (2.5%, 95% CI 1.53-3.46) and 4 SS (0.4%, 95% CI 0.01-0.79). A definitive diagnosis could not be reached in 144 patients (14.37%, 95% CI 12.2-16.54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strategy using an initial serum AAT level obtained by dried blood spot testing and subsequent genotyping was a satisfactory initial approach to a screening program for severe AAT, as a definitive diagnosis was achieved in 87% of patients. However, results were not obtained for logistical reasons in the remaining 13%. This major obstacle may be overcome by the use of dried blood spot phenotyping techniques. We believe this approach for detecting AATD in COPD patients, in compliance with national and international guidelines, is supported by our results.
authors: Sector Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: patricia.sorroche@hospitalitaliano.org.ar.
authors: Patricia Beatriz
authors: PB
authors: Sorroche
authors: Hospital zonal especializado de agudos y crónicos Dr. Antonio Cetrángolo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Fernández Acquier
authors: Hospital zonal especializado de agudos y crónicos Dr. Antonio Cetrángolo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Orlando
authors: O
authors: López Jove
authors: Hospital zonal especializado de agudos y crónicos Dr. Antonio Cetrángolo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Giugno
authors: Hospital zonal especializado de agudos y crónicos Dr. Antonio Cetrángolo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Salvador
authors: S
authors: Pace
authors: Sector Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Livellara
authors: Sector Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Legal
authors: Sector Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Oyhamburu
authors: Sector Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: María Soledad
authors: MS
authors: Saez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin
keywords: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Dried blood spot testing; Déficit de alfa 1 antitripsina; Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica; Medición de la concentración de proteína en sangre seca