Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is significantly associated with atopy in asthmatic patients

Abstract

Background: Although the etiology and disease mechanisms of asthma and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) are distinct, several reports indicate that asthma is common in AATD patients, however the relationships between asthma and AATD are poorly described in the literature.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate in a cohort of outpatients affected by mild to moderate asthma the clinical features that may differentiate asthmatic patients with and without mutation on SERPINA1 gene.

Methods: Seven hundred thirty-five asthmatic outpatients underwent quantitative analysis of the serum level of alpha-1antitrypsin. According to the literature only sixty-seven out of seven hundred thirty-five asthmatic patients were submitted to genetic analysis to identify AATD and non-AATD subjects. Fifty-eight patients were studied. Clinical and functional data, including lung function, atopy and bronchial hyperactivity, were recorded.

Results: The fifty-eight asthmatic patients were divided in AATD patients (n = 22) and non AATD patients (n = 36), according to genotype. The presence of atopy was significantly higher in patients with AATD than in those without AATD (91% vs. 64%; p = 0.031). AATD patients reported allergic manifestations more than non AATD patients (77% vs. 47%; p = 0.030).

Conclusion: Our study shows that the presence of atopy in asthmatic patients with AATD is significantly higher than in asthmatic patients without gene mutation. In addition, a higher percentage of AATD patients self-reported allergic manifestations. No significant differences in respiratory symptoms, physical examination, disease severity or inflammation markers were found between AATD patients and non AATD patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• asthma
• atopy
• symptoms
• prick tests
• lung function

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge and appreciate the assistance for statistical analysis of Dr. M. Rossi from the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma (Italy).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee of North Emilia Area (approval number: 33503, dated September 04th, 2018) in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki. This research was carried out in accordance with the approved guidelines. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before inclusion.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

There was no funding source for this study.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.