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Up to 25 million Americans carry an abnormal gene for Alpha-1 1

Many carriers of an abnormal gene for Alpha-1 have an increased risk of lung disease including lung cancer. 2 Order free Grifols AlphaKits for your patients.

Why It’s Important To Test Families for Alpha1-Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency

Smoking/Lung function decline graph

Alpha-1 occurs when a person inherits one abnormal gene from each of his/her parents.

  • If one of the parents has two abnormal genes (i.e., is an Alpha or a Pi ZZ type), then the person has a 100% chance of being a carrier (Figure A).
  • If each parent has only one abnormal gene (i.e., is an Alpha carrier), then the person has a 50% chance of being a carrier, a 25% chance of being an Alpha, and a 25% chance of having two normal alleles (Figure B).

AAT protects the lungs from damage when the patient has an infection or chronic condition. Alphas produce significantly less AAT than others. Find out more by visiting What Is AAT Deficiency.

Alpha-1 may be more common than you think, but it is rarely diagnosed.3 Up to 25 million Americans have 1 abnormal gene for AAT.1 Out of that 25 million, up to 100,000 may have Alpha-1 (2 abnormal genes), as many as 95,000 of them being undiagnosed.4

Family members at risk

People with Alpha-1 have an increased risk of severe lung, liver, and skin diseases.5 People with 1 abnormal gene are carriers of Alpha-1. Compared with noncarriers, they have a higher-than-normal risk of lung disease,1,2 including lung cancer.1,2

Healthcare providers and patients should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of testing before making a final decision.

Testing is easy, important, confidential, and free

Testing will tell if your patient has Alpha-1 or is a carrier. Most people don’t know if they have Alpha-1 until their lungs are damaged and they have symptoms, like shortness of breath, wheezing, bronchitis, and recurring colds. Find out more at Signs & Manifestations of Alpha-1.

If you detect Alpha-1 before symptoms appear, you can manage the disease more successfully, which may slow progression of lung disease. Knowing if your patient has Alpha-1 or a carrier helps him or her make decisions about work, lifestyle, and having children.

Testing is free and confidential. Results are sent only to the doctor who ordered the test. Find out more by visiting Alpha-1 Testing Details.

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The test is called the Grifols AlphaKit

It involves 3 drops of blood placed onto a piece of filter paper. The paper is mailed to a specialized central laboratory at the University of Florida. Results tell how much AAT is in your blood and if you have normal or abnormal genes for AAT.

What you can do for Alphas or Carriers

If you discover that your patient has Alpha-1 or is a carrier, there are many things that your patient can do, including lifestyle changes, medical treatment, or support from groups of other “Alphas”. Find out more by visiting What Do I Do If I’m an Alpha and Information for Carriers.

Getting your Grifols AlphaKit

You can prescribe the Grifols AlphaKit and have it delivered to your office by visiting http://www.prolastin.com/Diagnosis_and_Testing/Order_Test_Kits.aspx or by calling 800-562-7222.

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Important Safety Information

PROLASTIN-C, Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human) is indicated for chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults with emphysema due to deficiency of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency). The effect of augmentation 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 is not indicated as therapy for lung disease in patients in whom severe Alpha1-PI deficiency has not been established.

PROLASTIN-C may contain trace amounts of IgA. Patients with known antibodies to IgA, which can be present in patients with selective or severe IgA deficiency, have a greater risk of developing potentially severe hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions. PROLASTIN-C is contraindicated in patients with antibodies against IgA.

The most common drug related adverse reactions during clinical trials in ≥ 1% of subjects were chills, malaise, headache, rash, hot flush, and pruritus.

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. de Serres FJ, Blanco I, Fernández-Bustillo E. Genetic epidemiology of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in North America and Australia/New Zealand: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America. Clin Genet. 2003:64(5):382-397.
  2. Yang P, Sun Z, Krowka MJ, Aubry MC, Bamlet WR, Wampfler JA, et al. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency carriers, tobacco smoke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer risk. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(10):1097-1103.
  3. de Serres FJ. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is not a rare disease but a disease that is rarely diagnosed. Environ Health Perspect. 2003;111(16):1851-1854.
  4. Campos MA, Wanner A, Zhang G, Sandhaus RA. Trends in the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency between 1968 and 2003. Chest. 2005;128(3):1179-1186.
  5. Alpha-1 Foundation. What is Alpha-1? http://www.alphaone.org/healthcare/?c=01-What-is-Alpha-1-Healthcare. Accessed October 6, 2009.