PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - L Alvarez-Granda
AU  - M J Cabero-Perez
AU  - A Bustamante-Ruiz
AU  - D Gonzalez-Lamuño
AU  - M Delgado-Rodriguez
AU  - M García-Fuentes
TI  - PI SZ phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AID  - 10.1136/thx.52.7.659
DP  - 1997 Jul 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 659--661
VI  - 52
IP  - 7
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/52/7/659.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/52/7/659.full
SO  - Thorax1997 Jul 01; 52
AB  - BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to clarify whether the PI SZ phenotype of the protease inhibitor system predisposes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The prevalence of PI Z and PI SZ deficient phenotypes was investigated in a population of 702 patients with COPD followed up at the Chest Unit of a tertiary hospital and in 15400 newborn infants from the same geographical area. Individuals with deficiency were detected by screening of dried blood spots on filter paper using a comparative electro-immunodiffusion technique for alpha 1-antitrypsin and transferrin. The serum phenotype was confirmed by means of isoelectrofocusing on polyacrylamide gel. RESULTS: Of the 702 blood samples from patients with COPD, six PI Z subjects (0.85%) and one PI SZ (0.14%) were detected. Of the 15400 samples from neonates, the number of PI Z subjects was eight (0.052%) and that of PI SZ was 24 (0.156%). The difference between the two groups was significant for PI Z but not for PI SZ. CONCLUSIONS: The data do not indicate an increased risk for development of COPD associated with the PI SZ phenotype but confirm the predisposition of PI Z individuals for the development of COPD.