TY - JOUR T1 - Efficacy of augmentation therapy for emphysema associated with α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin deficiency: enough is enough JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 35 LP - 38 DO - 10.1183/13993003.01145-2015 VL - 47 IS - 1 AU - Bruno Balbi AU - Ilaria Ferrarotti AU - Marc Miravitlles Y1 - 2016/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/1/35.abstract N2 - α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is an autosomal co-dominant genetic condition which is widely prevalent in populations of European descent [1]. The pathogenesis of AATD-related lung manifestations is related to a protease (namely neutrophil elastase)–antiprotease (i.e. α1-antitrypsin, AAT) imbalance occurring in the respiratory system. In subjects with AATD this imbalance is usually caused by an enhanced burden of neutrophils, hence of neutrophil elastase, in the lung tissue, due to smoking and/or recurrent respiratory infections, and a variety of lung disorders may develop, predominantly lower lobe panacinar emphysema [2].Augmentation therapy is effective in reducing the rate of decline of lung density in α1-antitrypsin deficiency http://ow.ly/UXtMd ER -