ALPHA A ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY

Treatment includes:

Bronchodilators: makes breathing easier by relaxing the muscles around your airways. Bronchodilators can be short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting bronchodilators last about 4-6 hours and are used as needed. Long-acting bronchodilators last 12 hours or more and are used every day.

Inhaled corticosteroid medications: can reduce inflammation of the airways, making it easier to breathe. They may have side effects, including bruising, oral infections and hoarseness.

Antibiotics: should be given early for bouts of bronchitis and COPD exacerbation.

Flu and pneumococcal vaccines: yearly flu vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination every 3-5 years is also recommended.

Surgery and other treatments: in advanced disease there are surgical options available such as lung volume reduction surgery and bullectomy. There are also experimental procedures such as valve and coil placement into segmental bronchi, in an attempt to shrink the emphysematous areas and improve the function of the less affected areas of the lung.