[Results of the Implementation of a Case-Finding Program for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in COPD Patients]

Currently, the identification of new cases of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) continues to be one of the great challenges facing the disease. The present study aims to perform an analysis of the results of the implementation of a systematic case detection program of AATD for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cross-sectional observational study in which the results of AAT screening until December 2022 were analyzed. The cases studied were divided into three periods: (1) no systematic case detection until 2013; (2) systematic case detection of S and Z alleles for cases with AAT < 90 mg/dL until 2018, and (3) systematic case detection of 14 mutations for cases with AAT < 120 mg/dL since 2018.

A total of 471 cases were studied, of which 306 (65.0%) were carriers of some mutation related to HAD. The number of detected cases of all mutations with their percentage against those studied in each period was respectively: 6 (100%), 48 (88.8%) and 253 (61.5%). If we limit to severe mutations (AAT < 57.2 mg/dL), the distribution by periods was respectively: 3 (50.0), 10 (18.5%) and 17 (4.1%).

The present study describes the changes in the detection of patients carrying DAAT-related alleles with three different case identification policies. The data support the use of systematic case detection system in the COPD patient population.