The Importance of Early Identification of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a common genetic disorder that is easily managed if diagnosed and treated at an early age. It is often missed, however, especially in patients with long histories of smoking and alcohol use. This is mainly due to a lack of awareness and proper screening of the disorder, especially in the primary care setting. Here, we will focus on a case report of a young male whose diagnosis and treatment of AATD was significantly delayed. His lung and liver complications had initially been attributed to his smoking and drinking history. This delay could have been avoided by increasing awareness of AATD and through the implementation of novel screening tests that can quickly rule out the disorder in patients presenting with lung and liver disease.