Therapy Options

• Should Your Patient Be Tested
• Your Newly Diagnosed Patient
• Managing Your AAT Deficient Patient

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There are several therapy options that you may want to consider for your patients with AAT deficiency.

Augmentation Therapy

Although there is no cure for AAT deficiency, patients with clinically evident emphysema are candidates for AAT augmentation therapy.¹ AAT augmentation therapy with alpha₁-proteinase inhibitor involves replacement of the missing protein through infusions of purified human AAT.

Augmentation therapy is recommended by ATS/ERS for "individuals with established airflow obstruction from AAT deficiency."¹ Augmentation therapy has been shown to maintain serum levels of AAT above the ATS/ERS-recommended protective threshold of 11 µM.²

Symptomatic Treatment

Management of obstructive lung disease in individuals with AAT deficiency is similar to management of other obstructive lung diseases, including use of:

• Inhaled bronchodilators
• Supplemental oxygen, when needed
• Antibiotic therapy for respiratory infections
• Brief courses of systemic corticosteroids during acute exacerbations
• Pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with functional impairment

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is important for patients with AAT deficiency. Health practices that can slow or prevent further lung damage are particularly important.

It is critical that you advise AAT deficient patients to stop smoking. Encouraging them to reduce their exposure to occupational and environmental pollutants, including second-hand tobacco smoke and all types of dust, is also important.

Patients should be strongly advised to stay current with immunizations, especially for influenza and pneumonia.

You also should encourage your patients to:

• Participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation plan
• Adhere to a good nutrition and exercise program
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Develop a stress-management program
• Avoid exposure to people who are sick
• Maintain regular physician appointments and comply with prescribed medications and professional advice

Surgery for Advanced Disease

Lung transplantation can be considered for patients who do not respond to more conservative therapy or for those who have extensive lung damage.

ARALAST [Alpha₁-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human)] is indicated for chronic augmentation therapy in patients having congenital deficiency of A₁-PI with clinically evident emphysema. ARALAST is not indicated as therapy for lung disease patients in whom congenital A₁-PI deficiency has not been established.

Please review the Important Safety Information and the Full Prescribing Information