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Smoking accelerates lung function decline

Smoking Accelerates Lung Function Decline in Alpha-13

Smoking/Lung function decline graph

FEV1 is a lung function measurement which measures how much air you can breathe out in one second. It is a measure of lung health.

When lungs are irritated by tobacco smoke, your body produces neutrophil elastase to eliminate it from your lungs. When the neutrophil elastase has finished breaking down the tobacco smoke, it continues to work, destroying your lung tissue and reducing its ability to expand and contract.7

Your body responds by producing AAT to neutralize excess neutrophil elastase. If there is a shortage of AAT, neutrophil elastase continues to break down your lung tissue, leaving you with less lung function.7

In 1 clinical study of 927 patients with Alpha-1, 78.7% of patients were either current smokers (8.1%) or ex-smokers (70.6%)1

Cigarette smoke destroys delicate lung tissue5,6

Side by Side comparison

As shown above, normal lung tissue which has small, regular sized openings (left) is destroyed by smoking, causing large openings that interfere with lung function (right) because of cigarette smoke,2,3 which:

  • Contains oxidants capable of inactivating AAT2
  • Recruits inflammatory cells and increases neutrophil elastase concentration8
  • Can be detrimental to lung function,2,4 even as second-hand smoke

Learn how to quit smoking. Get information about quitting on the web site of the American Lung Association.

Help Alphas stay healthy. Download Managing Environmental Risk Factors, a brochure from AlphaNet that you can help you stay healthy.

A Guide for the Recently Diagnosed

next: PROLASTIN-C Therapy >

Important Safety Information

Prolastin-C, Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human) is for adults who have emphysema caused by inherited alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. The effect of therapy with any alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) on pulmonary exacerbations and on the progression of emphysema in alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency has not been demonstrated in randomized, controlled clinical trials. PROLASTIN-C is not indicated as therapy for lung disease in patients in whom severe Alpha1-PI deficiency has not been established.

Prolastin-C may contain trace amounts of IgA. IgA deficient patients with antibodies against IgA should not receive Prolastin-C due to the risk of hypersensitivity.

The most common side effects during clinical trials with Prolastin-C were chills, a general feeling of being unwell, headache, rash, hot flush, and itching.

Prolastin-C is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

Please see accompanying Prolastin-C Full Prescribing Information for complete prescribing details.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References
  1. Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Registry Study Group. Survival and FEV1 decline in individuals with severe deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin. The Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Registry Study Group. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158(1):49-59.
  2. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: standards for the diagnosis and management of individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168(7):818-900.
  3. DeMeo DL, et al. Determinants of airflow obstruction in severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Thorax. 2007;62(9):806-813.
  4. Mayer AS, Stoller JK, Vedal S, et al. Risk factors for symptom onset in PI*Z alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2007;1(4):485-492.
  5. Köhnlein T, Welte T. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Clinical Aspects and Management. Bremen, Germany: UNI-MED Verlag AG; 2007.
  6. Snell GI. Airway bypass stenting for severe emphysema. CTSNet. April 16, 2006. www.ctsnet.org/portals/thoracic/newtechnology/article-4.html. Accessed April 23, 2008. Reproduced with permission of CTSNet, Inc.
  7. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: A Guide For The Recently Diagnosed Individual. Alpha-1 Foundation. Version 1.6, December 2006.
  8. MacNee W. Chest. 2000;117(5 suppl 1):303S-317S. Copyright 2000 by American College of Chest Physicians. Reproduced with permission of American College of Chest Physicians via Copyright Clearance Center.