Alpha-1 Lung Disease: Treatment

Treatment of Alpha-1 is important and includes:

Medications

People with Alpha-1 may live long, healthy lives without ever getting lung or liver problems from their Alpha-1.  For those who develop emphysema or COPD, treatment starts with the same medications and therapies used for those who get COPD without Alpha-1. The medications include:

• Inhaled bronchodilators

• Combination medication

• Inhaled corticosteroids

• Medication to prevent COPD flare-ups

In addition, specific therapy has been available for Alpha-1 lung disease since 1987, a class of medicine called augmentation therapy. This medication augments the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein in the blood with normal alpha-1 antitrypsin from healthy plasma donors and is infused into an arm vein. The dose is adjusted based on body weight, and this treatment is given once a week. This therapy does not help people with liver disease due to Alpha-1. There are currently four brands of augmentation therapy approved in the U.S. They include:

• Prolastin^®

• Aralast^TM

• Zemaira^®

• Glassia^®

In addition to medications, Alpha-1 lung disease treatment includes:

• Avoiding infection

• Oxygen therapy for those with oxygen saturation levels below 89%

• Breathing Retraining

• Techniques to bring up mucus

• Pulmonary rehabilitation

• Surgery is a treatment option for Alpha-1, depending on the type and severity of disease. This could include:

  • Lung transplant

  • Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) although often people with Alpha-1 lung disease are not good candidates for surgical lung volume reduction surgery.

  • Liver transplantation may be an option for people severely affected by Alpha-1 liver disease.

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, including people with Alpha-1 and their caregivers: A healthy lifestyle includes:

• Regular exercise

• Giving up smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. This is important in managing Alpha-1. Smoking can accelerate or speed the development of Alpha-1 related emphysema and shorten lifespan.

• Healthy eating

Remember, people with Alpha-1 can live al full life.