Alpha-1 Awareness Month: Awareness is Key for Underdiagnosed Genetic Disorder; ``Making a Clear Diagnosis. One Test, Once a Lifetime''.KING OF PRUSSIA King of Prussia, industrialized suburban area (1990 pop. 18,406), Montgomery co., SE Pa. It has glass and steel fabricating, food processing, printing and publishing, and varied manufacturing (textiles, liquified petroleum gas, water-treatment and electrical , Pa. -- Do you know someone with a chronic breathing problem that isn't responding to treatment? They could have Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency, or Alpha-1, an underdiagnosed genetic disorder that can affect the lungs and liver. Symptoms of the lung disorder include shortness of breath Shortness of Breath Definition Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the patient's level of physical activity. , chronic cough chronic cough, n health condition characterized by either a lingering cough or a recurring cough lasting more than a month. , and reduced lung function. Alpha-1 can also cause liver impairment and failure in both children and adults; in fact, Alpha-1 is the leading cause of childhood liver transplants. While only 3,000 to 4,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alpha-1 to date, researchers estimate that up to 100,000 adults and children in the U.S. have severe Alpha-1, and 2.5 million people nationwide may be carriers. That means that up to 95% of people with Alpha1-Antitrypsin deficiency may remain undiagnosed. May is Alpha-1 Awareness Month in many states across the country. ZLB ZLB Zero Length Body ZLB Zero Length Bit Behring, a global leader in the plasma therapeutics industry, encourages all individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease n. Abbr. COPD A chronic lung disease, such as asthma or emphysema, in which breathing becomes slowed or forced. (COPD COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD abbr. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ), emphysema emphysema (ĕmfĭsē`mə), pathological or physiological enlargement or overdistention of the air sacs of the lungs. A major cause of pulmonary insufficiency in chronic cigarette smokers, emphysema is a progressive disease that commonly or asthma; individuals with a family history of Alpha-1; and individuals with unexplained or chronic liver disease Chronic liver disease is a liver disease of slow process and persisting over a long period of time, resulting in a progressive destruction of the liver. It includes amongst others:
As part of its continuing long-term commitment to the Alpha-1 community, ZLB Behring is pleased to roll out a comprehensive Detection Program during Alpha-1 Awareness Month. The Detection Program, themed "Making a Clear Diagnosis. One Test, Once a Lifetime," is intended to educate physicians on the need for testing for Alpha-1, including how to test and how to treat people who test positive for the deficiency. The Detection Program is a new component of the educational support ZLB Behring provides to the Alpha-1 community. For more information on this program and ZLB Behring's other patient and physician support programs, contact 1-866-ZEMAIRA (1-866-936-2472) or visit www.zemaira.com. About ZLB Behring ZLB Behring is a global leader in the plasma protein biotherapeutics industry. Dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients throughout the world, ZLB Behring provides safe and effective plasma-derived and recombinant products and offers patients a wide range of related services. The company's broad portfolio of life-saving therapeutics are used in the treatment of individuals with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, immune deficiency disorders and inherited emphysema; the prevention of hemolytic he·mo·lyt·ic adj. Destructive to red blood cells; hematolytic. Hemolytic Referring to the destruction of the cell membranes of red blood cells, resulting in the release of hemoglobin from the damaged cell. diseases for the newborn; cardiac surgery patients; and shock and burn victims. Additionally, ZLB Behring operates one of the world's largest, fully-owned plasma collection networks. ZLB Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biopharmaceutical company, which operates worldwide from its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, please visit www.ZLBBehring.com. |
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