Epidemiological studies have revealed that patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have a larger population in geographic areas which report a higher incidence of COVID-19 and mortality, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The geographical overlap between AATD patients and patients with COVID-19 suggests that there may be an association…
A genomic test called Envisia genomic classifier increases the diagnostic accuracy of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as well as the confidence of the physicians in their diagnosis and referring patients to the right therapy, according to the results of a prospective, randomized survey among pulmonologists. These results were presented at the American College of Chest…
SERPINA1 genotype determines the severity of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and the serum levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), concluded a new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. It also influences the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. SERPINA1 provides instructions for the production of AAT, a protein mainly…
Larry Luxner, senior correspondent for Rare Disease Advisor, talks with pulmonologist and Yale University School of Medicine professor Naftali Kaminski, MD.
Three Lakes Foundation, Yale University, and the University of Pittsburgh are joining forces to speed up the search for treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.
Local anesthesia is more efficient in pregnant patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than general anesthesia in terms of blood oxygen saturation and systolic and diastolic blood pressure following surgery, as well as mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit admission time, length of stay, and mortality rate. This is according to a new study by…
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomic testing services may aid in identifying individuals and families at risk for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), according to a new study published in Chest. Participants were recruited from patients who had previously received DTC genomic services from the company 23andMe and were provided access to the survey between September 2018 and April…
The hospitalization rate and in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) seem to be stable in the US, according to a new study published in the journal Chest and presented at the Chest 2021 Annual Meeting. However, the proportion of diabetes among these patients seems to have decreased. Studies conducted before 2013 suggested…
Mechanically ventilated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients have a worse outcome than similar patients without PAH, according to a study published in Chest and presented at the Chest 2021 Annual Meeting. The researchers also reported that the first 24 hours after intubation is a particularly vulnerable period that may be crucial for the long-term outcomes…
There may be an association between the MUC5B rs35705950 T allele and the risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a new study published in the journal Chest and presented at the Chest 2021 Annual Meeting. Genetic screening could play a key role in a population whose members have a family history of IPF.…
