[Genetic aspects of chronic lung diseases (early diagnosis and prevention)]

According to the data of the Institute of Pulmonology of the USSR Ministry of Public Health about 20 per cent of the patients in the specialized pulmonological department had hereditary diseases of the lungs. The most frequent were pulmonary mucoviscidosis in adults, obstructive pulmonary affections with deficiency of alpha 1-inhibitor of proteases and Zivert Kartagener syndrome. Schemes for diagnosis of such diseases and dispensarization of the patients and probant families are described. Early diagnosis and medicogenetic consultations in the probant families are important for prophylaxis of development of severe forms of hereditary diseases of the lungs.