Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Program

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is an inherited condition that can cause progressive lung disease, liver disease, or both. Because AATD can affect multiple organs and requires lifelong management, patients benefit from specialized expertise and coordinated care.

UK HealthCare's Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Program provides comprehensive evaluation and management for patients with AATD, from diagnosis and genetic evaluation to advanced pulmonary and liver disease. Our multidisciplinary approach brings together expertise in pulmonary medicine, hepatology, advanced therapies, transplantation, rehabilitation, and clinical research.

Why Choose UK for AATD Care?

Specialized AATD expertise  

Our team provides comprehensive evaluation of patients with suspected or confirmed AATD, including assessment of lung and liver involvement and individualized long-term management.

Alpha-1 Foundation Clinical Resource Center 

The University of Kentucky is a Clinical Resource Center (CRC) for the Alpha-1 Foundation, providing access to a specialized network dedicated to improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Alpha-1-related disease.

Expertise in both lung and liver disease  

AATD can cause significant disease in both organs. UK provides specialized pulmonary and hepatology expertise, allowing patients to receive coordinated evaluation and management for both manifestations of AATD. UK is also a Clinical Resource Center for liver disease related to AATD.

Advanced therapies and clinical trials 

Eligible patients have access to clinical trials evaluating emerging therapies for AATD, providing opportunities to participate in innovative research while contributing to the future of Alpha-1 care.

Advanced lung disease care

Patients with severe emphysema may be evaluated for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with our interventional pulmonary team when appropriate. Our state-of-the-art pulmonary rehabilitation facility provides individualized exercise, education, and rehabilitation programs designed to improve functional capacity and quality of life.

Lung and liver transplantation

As a center offering both lung and liver transplantation, UK provides comprehensive evaluation and access to transplantation for appropriately selected patients with advanced AATD-related disease.

Comprehensive AATD Care

Our program provides:

• Diagnostic and genetic evaluation
• Comprehensive lung and liver assessment
• Individualized pulmonary disease management
• Evaluation for augmentation therapy
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• BLVR evaluation for appropriate patients
• Liver disease management and surveillance
• Lung and liver transplant evaluation
• Access to AATD clinical trials
• Multidisciplinary care for advanced disease