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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.

Alpha-1 Testing Protocol & Comparison

Alpha-1 is usually determined by running 1 or more of 3 types of lab tests that typically require a small sample of blood:

AAT Blood Level Test: Measures level of AAT in blood plasma (CPT: 82103)

  • Fast, inexpensive method to determine current degree of Alpha-1
  • Can be done by almost any lab
  • Does not reveal whether patient is a carrier, or whether patient is genetically deficient
  • AAT protein levels can vary in the blood
  • Less reliable for determining whether patient is predisposed to Alpha-1

Alpha-1 Genotype Test: Detects the most common Alpha-1–deficient alleles (Z and S) (CPT: 82103; 82104)

  • Will detect the most common Z or S alleles with great accuracy
  • Easy to interpret results
  • Will not detect null and other rare alleles

Alpha-1 Phenotype Test: Characterizes all types of AAT in blood (eg, M, Z, S, Null, etc.) (CPT: 83894)

  • Will determine all phenotypes, even null
  • Expensive
  • Difficult to interpret results

next: Recommend Testing for Families of Alphas >

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, et al. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency carriers, tobacco smoke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer risk. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(10):1097-1103.