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An inherited metabolic disorder that involves plasma protein metabolism malfunction.
No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) can present with hepatic dysfunction in individuals from infancy to adulthood and with obstructive lung disease and/or bronchiectasis, characteristically in individuals older than age 30 years. Phenotypic expression varies within and between families. The severity of AATD depends on the genotype and resultant serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) level. Individuals homozygous for severe deficiency alleles (i.e., PI*ZZ) have low serum AAT levels, placing them at increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . Individuals with alleles associated with intrahepatic inclusions (e.g., Z, Mmalton, Siiyama) are also at increased risk of developing liver disease. Under-recognition of AATD often causes a long delay between first symptoms and initial diagnosis of AATD (i.e., 5-7 years) and many individuals report seeing multiple physicians before the diagnosis is first established. Diagnostic delay is associated with worsened clinical status at the time of initial diagnosis . To date, approximately 5,000-10,000 individuals in the United States have been identified with a pathogenic variant in SERPINA1 . The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports. Table 3. Select Features of AATD
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) should be suspected in individuals with evidence of:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (i.e., emphysema, persistent airflow obstruction, chronic bronchitis, and/or bronchiectasis); AND/OR
Any of the following:
Liver disease at any age, including obstructive jaundice in infancy
No approved treatments are currently available for plasma protein metabolism disease. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 6. Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with AATD
Table 8.
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with AATD
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency
| Pulmonary function tests (incl spirometry w/bronchodilators diffusing capacity measurements) | Every 6-12 mos
| Liver function tests, platelet count liver ultrasound, elastography (e.g., FibroScan), MRI
No clinical trials have been registered for plasma protein metabolism disease.
302 publications have been identified in PubMed for plasma protein metabolism disease. Research spans Basic Science / Preclinical (37%), Epidemiology / Natural History (24%), and Diagnostic / Biomarker (19%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Laboratory research | 113 | 37% |
Data assembled from 3 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 18, 2026, 11:44 PM UTC
Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
COPD (emphysema, chronic bronchitis) | 60%-80% | The pattern distribution of emphysema should not dissuade from considering the diagnosis of AATD. |
Bronchiectasis | ~27% | Bronchiectasis is present on CT chest in ~90% of those w/PI*ZZ clinically evident in ~27% . |
Neonatal cholestasis | ~11% | ~65% will go on to have severe liver disease. |
Cirrhosis | 12%-40% | Liver disease may be subclinical. |
Panniculitis | Uncommon | May be present in AATD phenotypes not assoc w/lung disease |
GPA | Uncommon but associated | Odds ratio for having an abnormal AAT gene is ~11 in persons w/GPA . AAT = alpha-1 antitrypsin; AATD = alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GPA = granulomatosis with polyangiitis Adult-onset lung disease. |
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
C-ANCA positive vasculitis (i.e., granulomatosis with polyangiitis)
Necrotizing panniculitis
The diagnosis of AATD relies on AND EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
•
•
Demonstration of Low Serum Concentration of the Protein Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) A variety of techniques have been used to measure serum AAT concentration; currently the most commonly used technique is nephelometry.
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
Lung Disease Differential diagnoses include disorders causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. have described an autosomal dominant predisposition to emphysema in a single large French Canadian family that affects the protein, tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor, type 6 (PTPN6). As with severe deficiency of AAT, in this newly described condition there is near-complete penetrance for emphysema that is lower-lobe predominant and can be early onset (i.e., 4th-5th decade). Unlike alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), PTPN6-type emphysema is inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. Liver Disease See for genetic disorders to consider in the differential diagnosis of AATD-related liver disease. The differential diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis also includes multiple metabolic diseases and other non-hereditary diseases including extrahepatic biliary atresia and gestational alloimmune liver disease (formerly known as neonatal hemochromatosis). Acquired disorders to consider include chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cholangitis. Table 5. Genetic Disorders Associated with Liver Disease in the Differential Diagnosis of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Gene(s) | Disorder | MOI | Clinical Features of Differential Diagnosis Disorder |
|---|---|---|---|
TJP2 | Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) (See OMIM PS211600 ATPB1 Deficiency.) | AR | Cholestasis can be prominent; presentation in infancy is common.; Risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in PFIC2 AATD is higher than in other liver diseases.; Other extrahepatic manifestations may incl hearing loss, diarrhea, pancreatitis, failure to thrive, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. |
ABCC2 | Dubin-Johnson syndrome (OMIM 237500) | AR | Jaundice in infancy w/both direct indirect hyperbilirubinemia |
Wilson disease | AR | Chronic liver disease | May be accompanied by neurologic /or psychiatric symptoms; Kayser-Fleischer rings in 50% of those w/hepatic disease; serum ceruloplasmin urinary copper excretion; Acute liver failure is assoc w/hemolysis serum alkaline phosphatase.; Liver biopsy shows excess copper accumulation steatosis. CFTR |
Cystic fibrosis | AR | Cholestasis in infancy; Liver disease can become more apparent in older children. | Extrahepatic obstruction due to inspissated bile or bile plugs HAMP HJV |
Juvenile hereditary hemochromatosis | AR | Presentation can be in early childhood ado... | — |
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for plasma protein metabolism disease has been reported in the published literature.
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment |
|---|
Lungs | Pulmonary function tests | Include:; Spirometry (w/post-bronchodilator testing); Lung volumes; Diffusing capacity; Measures of oxygenation Chest CT |
Liver | Liver biopsy | For light microscopy histochemistry when definition of precise nature extent of liver disease is clinically indicated |
Skin | Detailed history physical exam | Assess for panniculitis Genetic |
counseling | By genetics professionals1 | To inform affected persons families re nature, MOI, implications of AATD to facilitate medical personal decision making AATD = alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; MOI = mode of inheritance 1. |
Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with AATD Manifestation/Concern | Treatment | Considerations/Other |
Lung disease | Varies by type of lung disease | — |
COPD | Standard therapy incl ICS, LABA, long-acting muscarinic antagonists, pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen, vaccinations (e.g., influenza pneumococcal) | Although the inflammation of COPD is generally poorly responsive to ICS, a randomized study indicates that ICS may reduce dynamic hyperinflation, improve FEV1, walking distance, dyspnea when added to LABA in AATD . |
Emphysema | Augmentation therapy w/periodic intravenous infusion of pooled human serum AAT | Used in those w/established emphysema; The greatest benefit of this therapy is observed in individuals w/moderate degrees of airflow obstruction (e.g., FEV1 35%-60% predicted); Hospitalizations COPD exacerbations may after interruption of augmentation . |
End-stage lung disease (FEV1 30%) | Lung transplantation | May have short-term complications perhaps related to discontinuation of augmentation before transplantation, w/improved long-term survival relative to AATD replete COPD |
Liver disease | Liver transplantation for severe disease | Will restore AAT levels Vaccinations against hepatitis A B |
Panniculitis | Dapsone or doxycycline therapy; if refractory to this, high-dose intravenous AAT augmentation therapy | AAT = alpha-1 antitrypsin; AATD = alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS = inhaled corticosteroids; LABA = long-acting beta agonists Surveillance Table 8. |
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with AATD System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency |
Lung disease | Pulmonary function tests (incl spirometry w/bronchodilators diffusing capacity measurements) | Every 6-12 mos Liver disease |
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
Avoid the following:
Smoking (both active and passive)
Occupational exposure (including exposure to environmental pollutants used in agriculture, mineral dust, gas, and fumes)
Excessive use of alcohol
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
Many novel therapies for AATD are currently under investigation. Studies to slow the progression of lung disease include a variety of strategies: inhaled alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), liquid AAT, recombinant AAT, alternate dosing regimens of intravenous augmentation therapy (including double-dose strategies), an oral neutrophil elastase inhibitor, an orally available corrector molecule designed to restore secretion and acute phase reactivity, molecules to block polymer formation, and gene therapy using various viral vectors and delivery routes. Placement of valves endoscopically to improve lung function and functional status is also being studied.
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
View trials for plasma protein metabolism disease
MRI = magnetic resonance imaging
Source: GeneReviews — "Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency"
Disease patterns and progression
73 |
24% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 58 | 19% |
New treatment approaches | 23 | 8% |
Research summaries | 17 | 6% |
Clinical study results | 15 | 5% |
Patient case studies | 2 | 1% |
Other research | 1 | 0% |
Yao R (2026). [PMID: 41800109](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41800109/). *Mediators Inflamm*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Richards AR (2026). [PMID: 41622289](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41622289/). *Clin Epigenetics*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Zhang J (2026). [PMID: 41558114](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41558114/). *Int Dent J*. [Diagnostic / Biomarker]
Tang Q (2026). [PMID: 42159147](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42159147/). *Hum Gene Ther*. [Gene Therapy / Novel Therapeutics]
Zeng W (2026). [PMID: 41517675](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41517675/). *Medicine (Baltimore)*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Wu C (2026). [PMID: 41927926](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41927926/). *Nat Cardiovasc Res*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Jermy B (2026). [PMID: 41135761](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41135761/). *Ann Hepatol*. [Clinical Trial Publication]
Yang Y (2026). [PMID: 40796333](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40796333/). *J Clin Endocrinol Metab*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Yu Y (2026). [PMID: 41457966](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41457966/). *Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Balcar L (2026). [PMID: 41577636](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41577636/). *Aliment Pharmacol Ther*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]