The Alpha-1 Patient Profile
Test ALL COPD patients regardless of age, smoking history, or FEV1 decline1
Age, smoking history, and FEV1 levels alone cannot predict who has alpha-12
Alpha-1 can be found at all ages3,4
While the symptoms of alpha-1 usually appear between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age, data obtained over a 3-year period (2004–2007) from the renowned Alpha-1 Genetics Laboratory in Florida showed that the majority of newly diagnosed patients were 50 years of age or older.3,4
Given the disparity in patient diagnoses, ALL COPD patients should be tested for alpha-1, regardless of age.1
Smokers and ex-smokers make up a large part of the diagnosed alpha-1 population
Smoking accelerates lung function decline in patients with alpha-1. In a national registry study of 1,129 patients with alpha-1, 80% were either current smokers (8%) or ex-smokers (72%).2,5
Given the disparity in patient diagnoses, ALL COPD patients should be tested for alpha-1, regardless of smoking history.1
FEV1 levels alone should not determine who to test
These readings can be misleading, as some nonsmokers have low FEV1 levels and some smokers have high FEV1 levels.2
Given the disparity in patient diagnoses, ALL COPD patients should be tested for alpha-1, regardless of FEV1 levels.1
FEV1=forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
When you identify an alpha-1 patient, you identify an entire family
at risk1

Any deficient allele should prompt an immediate discussion of testing the whole family.6
Alpha-1 patients with at least one deficient allele have a genetic susceptibility to lung disease. Early testing is essential so that family members—if tested positive for alpha-1—may utilize disease-management programs to potentially limit the progression of lung disease.1,6