Have a good talk with your doctor

It’s important to have a productive talk with your doctor. Use this list of questions to ask about Alpha-1. Add questions of your own. Print them out. Bring them to your appointment. Find out more about in the Doctor Discussion Guide

What to do if you have Alpha-1?

If you have Alpha-1, find out about your treatment options, learn how to manage it, and discover what it means if you are a carrier. Learn what to do if you’re Alpha-1.

Interpreting Your Test Results

The results of your Talecris AlphaKit test are fast and confidential.

The Talecris AlphaKit determines your AAT genotype and phenotype. Your genotype is your genetic makeup. Your genotype combines with environmental factors to determine your phenotype, which is your physical characteristics, such as height, weight or alpha1 level. Learn more about the genotype-phenotype relationship.2

Testing for your genotype is efficient and automated, but it can only identify genes for which specific tests have been made. Testing for your phenotype is the most direct method of identifying Alphas and carriers.

The Talecris AlphaKit also measures AAT levels in your blood. If your level is below 82 mg/dL or 11 micromole/L, you should talk to your doctor.

Here are the more common phenotypes and their corresponding AAT levels.1

Phenotype
AAT Blood Levels
MM (2 normal copies)20–53 µM150–350 Mg/dL
MZ (1 normal copy, 1 abnormal copy)12–28 µM90–210 Mg/dL
SS (2 marginally abnormal copies)13–27 µM100–210 Mg/dL
SZ (1 abnormal copy,
1 marginally abnormal copy)		10–16 µM75–120 Mg/dL
ZZ (2 abnormal copies)2.5–7 µM20–45 Mg/dL
NULLNULL (2 nonfunctional copies)0 µM0 Mg/dL
  • If you have 2 normal copies of the AAT gene (MM in the chart) your body should produce normal levels of AAT
  • If you have 1 normal and 1 abnormal copy of the AAT gene (MZ in the chart) your body produces less-than-normal amounts of AAT and you are a carrier
  • If you have 2 slightly abnormal copies of the AAT gene (SS in the chart) your body produces less-than-normal amounts of AAT and you are a carrier
  • If you have 1 abnormal and 1 slightly abnormal copy of the AAT gene (SZ in the chart) your body produces less-than-normal amounts of AAT and you are a carrier
  • If you have 2 abnormal copies of the AAT gene (ZZ in the chart) your body produces very little AAT and you have Alpha-1
  • If you have 2 copies of very rare nonfunctional genes (NULL in the chart) your body produces no AAT and you have Alpha-1

If you have questions about your results, or to confirm your results, talk with your doctor.

next: Doctor Discussion Guide >

Important Safety Information
Prolastin-C, Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human) is for adults who have emphysema caused by inherited alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. The effect of therapy with any alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) on pulmonary exacerbations and on the progression of emphysema in alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency has not been demonstrated in randomized, controlled clinical trials.

Prolastin-C may contain trace amounts of IgA. IgA deficient patients with antibodies against IgA should not receive Prolastin-C due to the risk of hypersensitivity.

The most common side effects during clinical trials with Prolastin-C were chills, a general feeling of being unwell, headache, rash, hot flush, and itching.

Prolastin-C is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

Please see accompanying Prolastin-C Full Prescribing Information for complete prescribing details.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References
  1. How Is Alpha-1 Diagnosed? Alpha-1 Association. http://www.alpha1.org/whatisalpha1/ howdiagnosed.php. Accessed September 30, 2009.
  2. TheFreeDictionary.com. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Genotype+and+phenotype. Accessed December 4, 2009.