Joel Cooper, M.D., has been a key figure in one of the spectacular life-saving achievements in the history of Alpha-1: lung transplantation.

It is common for someone with a chronic disease such as COPD to also have other health concerns affect their overall health. These additional health concerns are called comorbidities (coe-more bid i tees).

Pulmonary rehabilitation (pulmonary rehab) is a program of exercise and education specifically designed for people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. In pulmonary rehab, participants gain strength, stamina, and flexibility, learn about their lungs and how to stay as healthy and independent as possible. They also find moral support and how to cope with changes brought on by COPD.

When it comes to pregnancy and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1), Kyle Hogarth, M.D., FCCP, says the most important thing for a woman with Alpha-1 to know is the genetics of her partner.

The year 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) by the Swedish researchers Sten Eriksson and Carl-Bertil Laurell. Alphas from around the world recently took part in an International Congress in Barcelona April 11-13 to mark the very beginning of Alpha-1 history.

The specific treatment for lung disease is called augmentation therapy. It is the use of alpha-1 protein from the blood plasma of healthy human donors to supplement or augment the low alpha-1 levels circulating in the blood and lungs of Alphas diagnosed with emphysema. The therapy is administered by a weekly intravenous infusion and, until other therapies become available, is considered ongoing and lifelong, according to the Alpha-1 Foundation.

When the research fellow, Sten Eriksson, M.D., Ph.D., and his supervisor and mentor, Carl-Bertil Laurell, M.D., Ph.D., reviewed the results and found five patients out of 1500 who were missing the alpha-1 band of protein, they essentially discovered and named the clinical entity, “Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency” (Alpha-1).