What is Alpha-1?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 5,000 Canadians. It occurs when there is a severe lack of a protein in the blood called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) which is produced by the liver.
There is no cure for AATD, but the disease can be managed with augmentation therapy (or “replacement therapy”). In augmentation therapy, plasma from healthy donors is used to increase levels of alpha-1 in the blood and lungs of those who have the condition.
Did you know?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition that affects approximately
1 in 5,000 Canadians.
Did you know?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disease, which means it's passed down to you from your parents. It can cause serious lung or liver disease.
Did you know?
There is no cure for AATD, but the disease can be managed with augmentation therapy
(or “replacement therapy”).
Did you know?
People with alpha-1
antitrypsin deficiency usually develop the first signs and symptoms of lung disease between ages 20 and 50.
Augmentation therapy is the only specific treatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
While 300 Canadians are currently receiving augmentation therapy, there are still hundreds of other Canadians unable to get treatment.
It’s time for augmentation therapy to be a category on the Canadian Blood Services Plasma Protein and Related Products formulary, to ensure equal access to treatment for all severely affected alpha-1 patients in Canada.
Formal endorsements supporting augmentation therapy being added as a category on the Canadian Blood Services Plasma Protein and Related Products formulary include:
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About Alpha-1 Canada
Alpha-1 Canada is a non-profit patient advocacy organization, providing education to patients and the healthcare community to increase awareness and testing for this genetic disease. Alpha-1 Canada has been appealing to Canadian Blood Services and the Provincial Territorial Blood Liaison Committee since 2017 to include treatment for alpha-1 patients on the national blood operator’s plasma products formulary to ensure all Canadian alpha-1 patients have equal access to a plasma-derived replacement therapy.