Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency for Nurse Practitioners

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is a common genetic disease that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma. It can cause liver and lung disease. The liver makes a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin that goes into the bloodstream. This protein protects the lungs and allows them to work normally. If there is not enough alpha-1 antitrypsin, it is called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Although Alpha-1 is one of the most common genetic life-threatening diseases worldwide, with an incidence comparable to that of cystic fibrosis, it remains underrecognized and undertreated and therefore continues to pose a significant health threat. According to the Alpha-1 Foundation, it is estimated that 1 in every 2,500 Americans have Alpha-1 yet less than 10% have been diagnosed. This exemplifies a significant healthcare knowledge gap. Many nurses have suboptimal knowledge/awareness of this genetic disorder and easily misdiagnose it for asthma or COPD, leading to an increased risk of patient mortality. This on-demand accredited activity intends to close knowledge gaps by increasing awareness regarding Alpha-1, which is paramount to increasing the number of identified carriers, provide strategies for diagnosing and treating these patients, therefore preventing further damage to improve patient outcomes and prolong their life span.