From the Guidelines
Elevated alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) levels typically indicate an acute phase reaction in the body, meaning your body is responding to inflammation, infection, tissue damage, or stress. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein produced mainly by the liver that protects the lungs from damage caused by neutrophil elastase, an enzyme released during inflammation. When your body detects inflammation or infection, it increases production of AAT as part of its defense mechanism. Elevated AAT levels are commonly seen during acute infections, inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, certain cancers, pregnancy, or when using oral contraceptives or steroids 1. While high levels are generally a normal protective response, they aren't specific to any particular condition and should be interpreted alongside other clinical findings and symptoms. Unlike low AAT levels (which indicate alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic disorder), high levels rarely require specific treatment beyond addressing the underlying cause of inflammation. If you have high AAT levels, your healthcare provider will likely focus on identifying and treating the underlying condition causing the elevation. It's worth noting that the provided studies, such as those from 1 and 1, primarily discuss the implications of low AAT levels and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, rather than elevated levels, highlighting the importance of considering the context and underlying conditions when interpreting AAT levels. In clinical practice, the management of elevated AAT levels would prioritize addressing the underlying cause of inflammation, rather than the elevated AAT levels themselves, to improve patient outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the Research
Elevated Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (A1AT) Levels
Elevated alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) levels are not typically associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, as this condition is characterized by low or absent serum levels of A1AT 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder that can cause lung and liver disease, and is typically diagnosed by measuring serum A1AT levels, followed by phenotyping or genotyping if low concentrations are found 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Key Points
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is associated with low or absent serum levels of A1AT, not elevated levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The condition can cause lung and liver disease, including emphysema, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Diagnosis is typically made by measuring serum A1AT levels, followed by phenotyping or genotyping if low concentrations are found 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Relevant Studies
The provided studies focus on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and its association with low or absent serum levels of A1AT, rather than elevated levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Therefore, there is limited information available on the meaning of elevated A1AT levels in the context of these studies.