Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (A1A) Genotypes in Adult Patients Presenting with Airway Obstruction at a Community Clinic

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1A) deficiency is an underdiagnosed risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as well as liver disease. Among the A1A deficient population, only an estimated 15% are diagnosed. The reason may be due to its nearly indistinguishable presentation to COPD from other etiologies. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of A1A genotypes in patients presenting with airway obstruction symptoms.