Understanding your Alpha-1 deficiency starts here.

What are signs and symptoms of Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD)?

People with AATD may have these symptoms:

• Ongoing cough
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness or heaviness
• Reduced exercise ability
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Frequent lung infections

These are also symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.^† It can be caused by Alpha-1 deficiency. Sometimes, people with Alpha-1 are diagnosed with asthma first because wheezing is a symptom of both asthma and AATD.

Having these symptoms may not mean you have Alpha-1 deficiency—and sometimes people with Alpha-1 don’t have these symptoms at all. If you have concerns, you may want to have a conversation with your doctor. You can ask about a test to check the level of Alpha-1 antitrypsin protein in your blood, especially if you have relatives with Alpha-1 deficiency.

^†GLASSIA is not intended to treat COPD or asthma.

Alpha-1 deficiency is a condition you’ll manage throughout your life.

At least 100,000 people in the US have Alpha-1 deficiency, and more than 90% don’t know they have it. Once you are diagnosed, your doctor will talk to you about ways you can manage your condition throughout your life. There is no cure, but there are ways to manage this condition. One way is augmentation therapy, where medicine is given through a vein, or intravenously (IV) for patients with severe Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency with clinically evident emphysema. This infusion helps increase the levels of Alpha-1 antitrypsin protein in your body. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and any questions you may have about family testing, living with Alpha-1 deficiency, or augmentation therapy.