Reduce symptoms1,2
Appropriate management of lung-related symptoms in alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency (also known as alpha-1) may include:
- Bronchodilators: used on an as-needed or regular basis to prevent or reduce symptoms (eg, reduce exercise-induced dyspnea)
- Inhaled steroids: used to reduce bronchial inflammation and help improve symptoms, lung function, and quality of life, may also reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbations in patients with predicted FEV1 <60%
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: recommended for patients with functional impairment
- Pulmonary rehabilitation may:
- Improve exercise capacity
- Reduce symptoms
- Improve health-related quality of life
- Reduce COPD-related anxiety and depression
- Reduce hospitalizations and length of hospital stay
- Improve recovery following exacerbation-related hospital stay
- Components of pulmonary rehabilitation may include:
- Exercise training
- Smoking cessation
- Nutrition counseling
- Education
- Pulmonary rehabilitation may:
References
- American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: standards for the diagnosis and management of individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168:818-900.
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2016. http://goldcopd.org/global-strategy-diagnosis-management-prevention-copd-2016/. Accessed July 14, 2016.
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