Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Quantitative details
What Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Quantitative shows
Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein made mainly by your liver that protects your lungs and other tissues from damage by enzymes released during inflammation. This test measures how much of it is in your blood. It is used to look for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited condition that can lead to early emphysema or COPD and, in some people, liver disease, especially when these appear at a younger age or without an obvious cause. A low level suggests deficiency, while a high level is common during inflammation, infection, pregnancy or with estrogen use, because the protein rises as part of the body's inflammatory response. Low or borderline results are usually followed by testing that identifies the genetic type.
Tests that include Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Quantitative
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin level may be increased in normal pregnancy and in several diseases including chronic pulmonary disease; hereditary angioedema; renal, gastric, liver and pancreatic diseases; diabetes; carcinomas and rheumatoid diseases. Alpha-1-Antitrypsin may be decreased in emphysema, hepatic cirrhosis, respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn, nephrosis, malnutrition and cachexia. If a deficiency is present, aat phenotyping may be considered to confirm heterozygous versus homozygous deficiencies.
- Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Quantitative Measures the level of alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein made by the liver that protects the lungs, used to look for inherited deficiency.
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