Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and status asthmaticus in a black teen-ager

The rare occurrence of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in black Americans has led to the suggestion that routine screening of such subjects in needless. Our report of a black teen-ager with deficiency of this protease inhibitor in association with status asthmaticus suggests that at least relatively young black patients with otherwise unexplained chronic pulmonary disease should be tested for this defect.