Asthma and Alpha-1

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of your airways. This inflammation of the airways leading to your lungs causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning.

These episodes are usually associated with airflow obstruction. The obstruction is often reversible with treatment. However, in some patients with asthma, recovery may be incomplete. Asthma also causes an increase in sensitivity to various irritants.1

Is it asthma or Alpha-1?

Alpha-1 is often misdiagnosed as asthma because the symptoms are similar:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Chronic cough
  • Recurring chest colds

Testing for Alpha-1

The average Alpha patient experiences symptoms for more than 8 years and sees 3 doctors before being correctly diagnosed with Alpha-1.2 This delay is too long, especially considering the destruction of lung tissue prior to diagnosis. Alpha-1 is easily diagnosed with simple blood tests.

Ask your doctor about a free Talecris AlphaKit that can tell if you have Alpha-1.

next: COPD and Alpha-1 >

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. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Full Report 2007. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf. Accessed September 29, 2009.
  2. Campos MA, Wanner A, Zhang G, Sandhaus RA. Trends in the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency between 1968 and 2003. Chest. 2005;128(3):1179-1186.