Date:11/14/2007

ti-inflammatory protein that protects the tissue of the body. One of its most important roles is to shield the delicate tissues of the lungs by binding to neutrophil elastase, an enzyme released by certain white blood cells that digests bacteria and other foreign substances in the lungs. When a person with deficient levels of AAT inhales irritants or contracts a lung infection, the neutrophil elastase released to protect the lungs is uncontrolled and can injure healthy lung tissue. Repeated injury to the normal structure of the lungs can eventually result in emphysema, a condition affecting 54 percent of diagnosed AAT deficient patients, according to a recent registry. Identifying patients with AAT deficiency can be problematic, however. Because AAT deficiency typically involves such common symptoms as shortness of breath on exertion, wheezing, and coughing, the condition is often misdiagnosed as another chronic lung condition. In fact, retrospective studies show that even after an Alpha-1 patient has developed symptoms, it can take an average of seven years and visits to five different healthcare professionals before the correct diagnosis is made. Researchers estimate that up to 100,000 adults and children in the U.S. have severe Alpha- 1, and 25 million people nationwide may be carriers. Only about 5,000 patients are currently diagnosed as AAT deficient, meaning that up to 95 percent of people with the deficiency remain undiagnosed.

CSL Behring to Launch National Campaign to Improve Detection of AAT Deficiency

To advance the early diagnosis and treatment of AAT deficiency, CSL Behring, a leader in alpha-1 research and treatment, is launching a national education and support program called Test Today. Change Tomorrow. The initiative will target patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals with activities and services, such as a national disease awareness campaign about Alpha-1 deficiency, a toll-free information center and website, educational mate
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SOURCE CSL Behring Copyright©2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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