Management of lung disease in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: what we do and what we do not know

Abstract

Management of lung disease in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) includes both non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches. Lifestyle changes with avoidance of environmental pollutants, including tobacco smoke, improving exercise levels and nutritional status, all encompassed under a disease management program, are crucial pillars of AATD management. Non-pharmacological therapies follow conventional treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Specific pharmacological treatment consists of administering exogenous alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein intravenously (augmentation therapy). This intervention raises AAT levels in serum and lung epithelial lining fluid, increases anti-elastase capacity, and decreases several inflammatory mediators in the lung. Radiologically, augmentation therapy reduces lung density loss over time, thus delaying disease progression. The effect of augmentation therapy on other lung-related outcomes, such as exacerbation frequency/length, quality of life, lung function decline, and mortality, are less clear and questions regarding dose optimization or route of administration are still debatable. This review discusses the rationale and available evidence for these interventions in AATD.

Introduction

Lung disease is a characteristic pathological feature of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). Although some patients present with bronchiectasis of variable severity, the most common lung manifestation is emphysema and clinical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the treatment of lung disease in AATD encompasses therapies recommended by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).¹ In addition, an approved and specific treatment for emphysema due to AATD is the intravenous (IV) administration of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) therapy (referred to as augmentation therapy). Augmentation therapy has been shown to slow the progression of lung density loss;^2,3 however, more solid evidence of effect in other clinical outcomes is needed.

We briefly review the currently indicated non-pharmacological and pharmacological options for the management of lung disease in patients with AATD, placing special emphasis on the existing evidence for these therapies in this specific population, highlighting knowledge gaps and future directions of care.

Non-pharmacological interventions in the management of AATD-associated lung disease

Non-pharmacological interventions are an essential part of therapy for respiratory diseases and are not specific for AATD. They provide symptomatic improvement and better quality of life; some strategies can also prolong survival.⁴

What we know

Smoking cessation and lifestyle modification

Exposure to environmental and tobacco smoke is the most important risk factor for the development of lung disease in AATD. Patients who smoke are at a far higher risk of developing lung disease compared with those who do not, and smoking is known to accelerate the decline in lung function in this condition.^5,6 Patients with AATD who have never smoked are usually asymptomatic, typically identified through family testing, and often have a normal lifespan.⁷ Although no interventional clinical trials of smoking cessation in AATD are available, these observations strongly indicate that smoking cessation is a disease-modifying lifestyle intervention that can improve outcomes in patients with AATD.⁸ In addition, it has been shown that smoking oxidizes AAT and diminishes its anti-elastase function,⁹ a compulsory reason to mandate that patients with AATD stop smoking prior to the initiation of augmentation therapy.¹⁰ Exposure to pollutants also produces an effect similar to tobacco smoke. Occupational exposure to mineral dust, smoke, and fumes is related to poorer lung-related outcomes in patients with AATD.¹¹ Therefore, patients in high-risk occupations (e.g. farmers and construction workers, etc.) should consider ways to reduce their exposure to these agents.

Disease management

Disease management programs such as the Alpha-1 Disease Management and Prevention Program (ADMAPP) developed by AlphaNet, a non-profit organization, encompass many patient-focused initiatives, including patient education, with the goal of optimizing patient outcomes. One of the key objectives of ADMAPP is to empower patients by having access to detailed educational material relevant to their care. In addition, AlphaNet provide a telephone monitoring service that allows patients to interact with coordinators on a monthly basis, thereby providing close follow-up of patients enrolled in the program.¹² Patients enrolled in ADMAPP were shown to be more likely to take preventive measures, such as smoking cessation and exercise, and felt more informed about their condition.¹² This program has also been shown to improve medication usage and was associated with decreased exacerbations, improvements in quality of life, and decreased healthcare utilization.¹³ Moreover, disease management programs may be useful tools for informing and improving preventive measures taken by patients with AATD.¹²

What we do not know

Surgical and interventional approaches

Lung transplantation is the only treatment option available for patients with AATD-associated end-stage lung disease, and is associated with favorable outcomes.^14,15 This is discussed in more detail within the transplantation chapter of this series of reviews by Zamora and Ataya.¹⁶ However, the role of lung volume reduction techniques in AATD is less clear. Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), a successful therapy for palliative care for carefully selected patients with end-stage emphysema, has been shown to improve lung function,^17,18 exercise capacity,¹⁹ and quality of life.²⁰ In the National Emphysema Treatment Trial, which investigated the effects of LVRS in 1218 patients with emphysema, only 16 (1.3%) had severe AATD, and, of these, 10 were randomized to undergo LVRS.²¹ In this group of 10 patients, trends were observed toward shorter-lived improvements in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) after treatment compared with patients with non-AATD-related emphysema.²¹ There was also higher mortality in AAT-deficient individuals randomized to surgery compared with medical treatment, suggesting caution in recommending LVRS in patients with AATD.²¹

In AATD specifically, LVRS can produce significant improvements in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and exercise capacity in the short term but levels return to baseline between 6 and 12 months post surgery.²² PFTs also show further deterioration after 24 months.²² These short-term results are unlikely to be due to inadequate lung resection and may be due to a more rapid progression in the remaining tissue, and/or impairment of the diaphragm induced by the surgery.²² In AATD, lung function improvements last up to 3.5 years after LVRS,²³ while in non-AATD associated emphysema, benefits of LVRS can last up to 5 years.²⁴ Endobronchial lung volume reduction (ELVR) is a less invasive form of LVRS, but most studies have excluded patients with AATD as they were previously deemed unsuitable for the procedure based on LVRS criteria (AATD-associated emphysema typically affects lower lung lobes in contrast to smoking-induced emphysema, which more often affects upper lobes). In 12 patients homozygous for AATD (genotype not specified), it was demonstrated that ELVR can increase FEV₁ (mean: 54%) and improve quality of life.²⁵ Two patients were even taken off oxygen therapy completely,²⁵ suggesting there is no reason to exclude patients with AATD from ELVR surgery. Nevertheless, this study was only conducted in a small group of carefully selected patients and the use of ELVR in patients with AATD, therefore, requires further investigation.

Endobronchial coil treatment (ECT) is another less invasive procedure for emphysema patients but there are few data for ECT in AATD, as AATD is classically an exclusion criterion in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, in a post hoc analysis of the REVOLENS study,²⁶ in which 50 patients were randomized to receive ECT, there were significant decreases in hyperinflation and improvements in quality of life for the six patients with AATD.²⁷ Results also suggested that patients with AATD had similar efficacy and safety outcomes at 1 year to patients with non-AATD-related severe emphysema.²⁷ As with ELVR, appropriately powered studies are required to assess the true effects of ECT in AATD.

Pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise

Pulmonary rehabilitation is defined by the American Thoracic Society as a multidisciplinary program of care for patients with chronic respiratory impairment that is individually tailored and designed to optimize physical and social performance and autonomy.²⁸ The program encompasses exercise training (e.g. aerobic exercise and strength training, as well as specific respiratory muscle training), education (e.g. breathing strategies, energy conservation, and work simplification), and facilitating beneficial psychosocial and behavioral interventions.²⁸ In COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to relieve dyspnea and fatigue, improve emotional function and enhance the sense of control that individuals have over their condition. It is also beneficial in improving health-related quality of life, exercise capacity and inspiratory capacity.^29,30 Patients with COPD undergoing an individualized, structured, high-intensity training program improved their exercise capacity, gained muscle mass, and improved their quality of life.³¹ These proven benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation are likely applicable to patients with AATD. A study comparing the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with AATD-related COPD and general COPD concluded that the benefits in terms of physical performance increase were similar in both groups of patients.³² However, data on emphysema distribution, comorbidities, and individual pharmacological therapy were not available in the database used for this study and so it cannot be excluded that patient comorbidities, which can have profound effects on quality of life, may have influenced results. The effects of exercise on specific clinical outcomes in AATD are likely positive but require further investigation.

Nutrition

Weight loss and malnutrition, characterized by cachexia and muscle wasting, are commonly reported in patients with COPD and emphysema, and weight loss has been recognized as a poor prognostic factor in these patients.^5,33 In AATD, concentrations of total body protein and plasma transthyretin (a biomarker of lean body mass and catabolism) are reduced and indicate early signs of malnutrition.³⁴ Nutritional supplement therapy is effective for maintaining and improving muscle strength and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD who are poorly nourished, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality.³³

The relationship between obesity and risk of respiratory disease is controversial.^35,36 While it is established that obesity increases the risk of respiratory disorders, including COPD,³⁷ it has also been observed that obesity in COPD may be associated with improved survival and lung function.³⁸ In obese patients with COPD, it is recommended that patients adhere to dietary restrictions alongside resistance strength training regimens.³⁹ In addition to respiratory disorders, obesity has also been linked to AATD-associated liver disease.⁴⁰ In a study of the epigenetic features of liver biopsies, a marked overlap was found between samples from patients with AATD liver cirrhosis and those with obesity/fatty liver-driven disease.⁴⁰

Overall, it is clear that appropriate nutrition is important in the management of patients with COPD, but it is currently unclear whether requirements differ for patients with AATD, with a possible link between obesity and liver disease warranting further investigation. In the absence of more specific guidance, general COPD recommendations should be followed in relation to nutrition and AATD.

Vaccinations

There is little specific evidence for the use of influenza and pneumococcal immunization in AATD-associated COPD. One observational study has shown no significant impact of influenza vaccination on exacerbations in a cohort of patients with AATD during one flu season.⁴¹ However, given the inherent limitations of this observational study, and the limited evidence in this area overall, there is no rationale to deviate from COPD guidelines in this regard. Until further evidence is available, practice should follow national influenza and pneumococcal vaccination protocols for COPD.^42,43 The role of hepatitis in the promotion of AATD-related liver disease has been suggested, but there are few supporting data.¹⁰ Nevertheless, hepatitis A and B vaccinations may be beneficial in patients with established liver disease, especially in pediatric patients.⁴⁴

Pharmacological management of AATD-associated lung disease

Pharmacological therapies are instrumental in the management of patients with lung disease and AATD. Recommendations for management of chronic symptoms and acute exacerbations in patients with AATD generally follow those for general COPD, as described in the guidelines from GOLD,¹ and include the use of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).⁴⁵ Key changes in the most recent GOLD guidelines are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Key changes to recommendations in the most recent GOLD guidelines update.¹

Domain	Change
Assessment methods	• Assess disease severity based on symptoms and exacerbations using mMRC and AECOPD guidelines, whilst also taking risk factors and spirometry measurements into account
Devices	• The importance of inhaler device training and education cannot be over-emphasized • Inhaler technique should be regularly assessed • Effectiveness and safety of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid is uncertain at present
Pharmacological treatment	• Pharmacological therapy can reduce symptoms, reduce exacerbation frequency and severity, and improve health status and exercise tolerance • Each pharmacological treatment regimen should be individualized and guided by severity of symptoms, exacerbation risk, side effects, comorbidities, drug availability and cost, and the patient’s response, preference, and ability to use various drug delivery devices • Influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations decrease the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections
Non-pharmacological treatment	• Long-term oxygen therapy improves survival in patients with severe resting chronic hypoxemia but should not be prescribed routinely for stable COPD and resting/exercise-induced moderate desaturation – individual patient factors must be considered when evaluating the patient’s need for oxygen supplementation • Long-term non-invasive ventilation may decrease mortality and prevent re-hospitalization in patients with severe chronic hypercapnia and a history of hospitalization for acute respiratory failure • Pulmonary rehabilitation improves symptoms, quality of life, and physical and emotional participation in everyday activities • Surgical or bronchoscopic interventional treatments may be beneficial in select patients with advanced emphysema*

^*Note that lung volume reduction is generally considered less suitable for patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.¹⁰

AECOPD, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council.

What we know

Patients with AATD have generally been excluded from RCTs studying pharmacological therapies in COPD. The only trial of an inhaled therapy in AATD is a small ICS trial in eight patients with the most severe form of AATD (PI*ZZ).⁴⁶ The trial showed that the addition of ICS to long-acting beta-agonists decreased airway narrowing and reduced dynamic hyperinflation, with marked improvements in exercise tolerance (as measured via a shuttle walking test), and dyspnea.⁴⁶

In the acute management of disease exacerbations, early antibiotic use has been shown to decrease exacerbation length in patients with AATD.⁴⁷

What we do not know

Although no specific RCT exists for patients with AATD and COPD, all other beneficial studies in COPD are widely used to guide recommendations for the management of AATD. These interventions include the use of long-acting muscarinic antagonists, the continuous or intermittent use of antibiotics to prevent or reduce COPD exacerbations,^48,49 mucolytics to reduce exacerbations,⁵⁰ the use of supplemental oxygen in subjects with severe hypoxemia (partial pressure of oxygen <55 mmHg),⁵¹ and the use of ICS in patients with frequent exacerbations and eosinophilia.^52–54 It is clear that studies are needed to confirm the effects of these therapies for patients with AATD and whether these may differ from general COPD but these are unlikely to be performed. The benefits of other pharmacologic agents recommended by the GOLD report, such as roflumilast, azithromycin, or N-acetyl cysteine,¹ have not yet been proven in RCTs for individuals with AATD. Nevertheless, these medications represent a reasonable step-up when escalation of therapy beyond inhalers is required.¹

Specific pharmacological treatment of AATD-associated lung disease: augmentation therapy

Augmentation therapy consists of scheduled (usually weekly) IV infusion of exogenous AAT protein, derived from the plasma of healthy individuals. The aim is to increase AAT levels in the blood and lungs of patients with AATD in order to restore the balance of unopposed protease activity [by neutrophil elastase (NE) and other proteases]. Augmentation therapy is indicated for patients with severe AAT deficiency (with serum AAT level <11 µM) and evidence of lung disease, namely emphysema with decline in lung function. Once started, treatment is lifelong.

What we know

Biochemical efficacy

The biochemical efficacy of augmentation therapy was first shown in 1987, where weekly IV AAT therapy significantly increased AAT levels in both serum and lung epithelial-lining fluid in 21 patients with AATD given AAT at 60 mg/kg per week.⁵⁵ On this basis, augmentation therapy was approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration with 60 mg/kg per week as the standard dose. The biochemical efficacy of AAT therapy has been well established in several studies, where this standard dose has been shown to raise serum AAT levels and increase NE inhibition.^56,57 NE inhibition leads to mitigation of elastin degradation and hence progression of emphysema. Desmosine and isodesmosine are unique amino acid cross-links in mature elastin fibers and can serve as biomarkers of elastin degradation.⁵⁸ Augmentation therapy is associated with significant reductions of both amino acids in plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and urine.^59,60

Lung density

Changes in lung density measured by computed tomography are now used as a surrogate to measure changes in emphysema progression.⁶¹ The RAPID trial, which was a 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to assess clinical efficacy of augmentation therapy, compared outcomes for 92 patients with AATD lung disease receiving augmentation therapy and 85 AATD patients receiving placebo treatment.² The trial demonstrated that patients treated with augmentation therapy exhibited a significantly lower annual rate of lung density loss at total lung capacity (−1.45 g/L) compared with patients receiving placebo (−2.19 g/L; p = 0.03).² In a 2-year open-label extension study (RAPID-OLE) in which 140 patients from the RAPID trial were all treated with augmentation therapy, patients who were previously assigned to the augmentation therapy group showed a significantly reduced decline in lung density loss compared with patients initially assigned to placebo.³ Notably, during the extension study, annual lung density loss in patients who had not received IV AAT in the initial RAPID study improved significantly (from −2.26 g/L to −1.26 g/L; p = 0.02), while lung density loss in patients who had previously received AAT showed little change (from −1.51 g/L to −1.63 g/L; p = 0.823),³ demonstrating that the efficacy of AAT was maintained throughout the RAPID study and into the extension study. Overall, these data support a disease-modifying effect of augmentation therapy, that is, change the course of disease progression.⁸ It is also worthy to mention that a post hoc analysis showed that baseline lung function had no major impact on the efficacy of augmentation therapy on lung density decline.⁶²

Results from the RAPID study were in line with those from earlier pilot studies evaluating augmentation therapy; the Danish–Dutch study and the EXACTLE trials.^63–65 A combined analysis of data obtained from these studies, which enrolled a total of 119 patients, showed a significant reduction in the decline in lung density loss in AAT-treated patients compared with control patients (−4.082 g/L versus −6.379 g/L; p = 0.006) over the 2.5-year study period, corresponding to annual declines of −1.73 g/L and −2.74 g/L, respectively.⁶⁵

FEV₁ decline

Observational evidence indicates that augmentation therapy also slows the decline in FEV₁, at least in a subset of patients.⁶⁶ The Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Registry Study Group found no overall difference in observed FEV₁ decline between patients who received augmentation therapy and those who did not (not a randomized study), but noted that treated patients with an FEV₁ 35–49% of predicted at baseline, had a significant slowing of FEV₁ decline of 27 mL/year compared with untreated patients with a similar range of lung function (p = 0.03).⁶⁶ A meta-analysis of five observational trials, enrolling a total of 1509 patients, demonstrated that patients treated with AAT had a 23% lower rate of FEV₁ decline (corresponding to an absolute difference of 13.4 mL/year) compared with patients not receiving augmentation therapy.⁶⁷ Importantly, this effect was primarily mediated by a subset of patients with a FEV₁ 30–65% of predicted at baseline, which showed a 26% reduction in FEV₁ decline (corresponding to an absolute difference of 17.9 mL/year); reductions in patients with an FEV₁ percentage of predicted <30% or >65% were not significant.⁶⁷ This may be due to the variability of FEV₁ decline as an outcome measure; patients with moderate impairment in FEV₁ show less variability in readings.⁶⁶

On the other hand, none of the existing RCTs evaluating augmentation therapy (RAPID, EXACTLE, Danish–Dutch study), either alone or in combination, showed an overall effect of augmentation therapy on FEV₁ (RAPID: −3.1% and −2.3% compared with baseline for AAT and placebo, respectively; EXACTLE/Danish–Dutch study combined analysis: FEV₁% predicted was 48.0% versus 47.9% at end of study for AAT and placebo, respectively).^2,65 It is important to highlight that none of these studies were designed to assess FEV₁ differences, as such a study requires enrollment of hundreds of patients with many years of follow-up.⁶⁸

Effect on inflammation

In addition to its anti-elastase properties, AAT has important immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functions.^69,70 For example, AAT upregulates the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist and blocks the release of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.^71,72 Within a week, augmentation therapy can lower serum IL-8 levels.⁷³ Within a month, the current standard dose of 60 mg/kg per week has been shown to significantly reduce sputum elastase activity and sputum levels of the chemoattractant leukotriene B4, and a trend towards decreased sputum myeloperoxidase and IL-8 has been observed.⁷⁴ A state of neutrophil “hyperactivity” has been described in AATD, which can be mitigated in vivo with the administration of augmentation therapy.^75,76 AAT also acts on the lung endothelium, an active participant in the inflammatory response, by assisting in the resolution of chronic inflammation.⁷⁷ Some individuals still exhibit residual systemic and pulmonary inflammation that can be further improved with increased dosing of AAT (120 mg/kg per week).⁷⁸

The anti-inflammatory properties of AAT have led to its evaluation in other non-AATD inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes type I, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplants, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).^79–81 Investigations are beginning to shed light on the specific signaling pathways involved in AAT’s anti-inflammatory mode of action. In a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction, treatment with AAT reduced caspase-1 activity in the ischemic myocardium by >90%.⁸² In the same study, AAT treatment preserved viable myocardium by reducing cell death by >50% and prevented adverse cardiac remodeling.⁸² Treatment with AAT has also been shown to suppress several inflammatory mediators in models of GVHD. AAT treatment suppresses CD8⁺ cell proliferation and suppresses increased expression of the IL-32, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 inflammatory cytokines in mixed lymphocyte cultures from patients with chronic GVHD and in a murine transplant model.⁸¹

Safety

Augmentation therapy is generally very well tolerated and of the few side effects that have been reported the majority have been mild and rarely required intervention and therapy interruption.⁸³ In a German study between 1989 and 1995, 443 patients received 58,000 infusions of 60 mg/kg per week IV AAT for the treatment of severe AATD and only 124 adverse reactions were reported in 65 patients.⁸⁴ In the majority of these patients, the adverse reactions were typical for IV infusion of proteins, such as fever/chills, urticaria, nausea/vomiting, and fatigue.⁸⁴ Only three patients terminated treatment due to repeated episodes of fever and chills immediately following AAT infusion.⁸⁴ Five severe adverse reactions were reported in five patients, all of which made complete recovery: anaphylactic reactions in four patients and worsened congestive heart failure with concomitant respiratory failure in one patient.⁸⁴ There were no deaths or viral transmission related to AAT infusion.⁸⁴

The frequency of adverse reactions following AAT augmentation was also very low in a US study, with 0.019–0.023 events per patient-month reported.⁸⁵ The most common adverse reactions were headache, dizziness, and dyspnea, which was classified as a severe reaction.⁸⁵ Patients who received weekly IV AAT did, however, report a higher rate of total adverse reactions compared with those who received treatment every 2–3 weeks, or monthly (0.030, 0.024, and 0.005 events per patient-month, respectively).⁸⁵ Furthermore, higher rates of severe and moderate adverse events were reported in those treated weekly compared with those who received treatment every 2–3 weeks, who generally reported milder adverse reactions.⁸⁵ Nevertheless, AAT augmentation was generally considered as well tolerated.

AAT augmentation was also well tolerated within the RAPID and RAPID-OLE studies described above. In the RAPID study, reported adverse events were similar between the treatment and the placebo groups.² Only one treatment-emergent adverse event in one patient within the treatment group led to withdrawal from the study; there were 10 treatment-emergent adverse events in four patients that led to study withdrawal from the placebo group.² This higher number of withdrawals from the placebo group was unexplained but was consistent with the greater loss of lung density within this group of patients.² In the RAPID-OLE study, there were no safety concerns associated with treatment; most treatment-emergent adverse events were related to the underlying disease, or events that commonly occur in the general population, and were similar to those in the RAPID study.³

In a small pilot study, the effects of increased dosing were investigated. After 4 weeks of receiving a double dose of AAT (120 mg/kg per week), there were no adverse events reported as related to augmentation therapy.⁷⁸ There were, however, three minor adverse events that were assessed as probably/likely related to study procedures.⁷⁸ Whilst these safety results suggest that dosing higher than the current standard dose is well tolerated, the pilot study was underpowered (n = 8 patients) and administered for only 4 weeks. In a slightly longer study, the safety of increased dosing was assessed in 30 patients with AATD over two treatment periods of 8 weeks, where patients were on either 60 or 120 mg/kg per week in first treatment period before being administered the alternate dose in the second treatment period.⁸⁶ In this crossover study, 120 mg/kg per week dose was considered to be as well tolerated as the standard 60 mg/kg per week dose, with just one treatment-related reaction associated with the 120 mg/kg per week dose and five reactions associated with the standard dose.⁸⁶ All adverse events were of mild intensity, of which COPD exacerbation was the most common; no severe reactions, study withdrawals, or deaths were reported.⁸⁶ These studies suggest that higher AAT dosing is well tolerated and should be further investigated.

What we do not know

Effect on exacerbation frequency

As with FEV₁ decline, there are no RCTs designed to test the effect of augmentation therapy on exacerbations and the evidence of observational studies is less compelling. In a US survey of 96 adult patients receiving AAT and 47 patients not receiving therapy, patients on augmentation therapy subjectively reported a markedly lower frequency and severity of lung infection compared with patients not receiving AAT.⁸⁷ Results of a questionnaire assessing exacerbation rates in an Austrian–German survey suggested lower exacerbations in patients on augmentation therapy (2.13 ± 1.2) compared with those on no therapy (3.47 ± 2.8).⁸⁸ A retrospective record review of exacerbation frequency in 127 patients showed a marked reduction in exacerbations after augmentation therapy was started, in particular in prior exacerbators.⁸⁹ In the RAPID and EXACTLE RCTs, although not statistically significant, patients that received augmentation therapy experienced more exacerbations than patients who received placebo.⁹⁰ With the studies combined in a meta-analysis, this difference reached significance (a 0.29/year higher incidence; p = 0.02).⁹⁰ It is clear that further research needs to be done on this topic. Augmentation therapy may not change the incidence of exacerbations but may modify its severity. Indeed, in a post hoc analysis of the EXACTLE RCT, a decrease in severe exacerbations (6.7% versus 13.5%; p = 0.013) and hospitalizations due to exacerbations (15.8% versus 28.2%) was observed in the AAT-treated patients compared with controls, although the effect on hospitalizations was not statistically significant.⁶⁴

Survival/mortality

A comparison study of patients from the UK (AAT-naive) and US (treated with AAT), matched by age and lung function, showed an overall positive effect of AAT treatment on survival and time to lung transplantation.⁹¹ A survival advantage was also suggested in the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Registry Study Group study, which reported that patients who received AAT had a significantly lower risk of mortality than patients who did not receive AAT (risk ratio = 0.64; p = 0.02).⁶⁶ Although this effect has not been confirmed in a RCT, a post hoc analysis of the RAPID program demonstrated that augmentation therapy was associated with a projected 5.6 life-years gained compared with patients not receiving treatment, based on an extrapolation to the time to reach a terminal lung density threshold of approximately 20 g/L (the average lung density of seven patients who exited the program due to respiratory failure, death, or lung transplantation).^3,92

Quality of life

AATD has a severe impact on the quality of life of affected individuals.^93,94 One major goal of the management of patients with AATD is to enhance quality of life, but due to a lack of data, there is no definitive evidence on how quality of life is impacted by augmentation therapy.⁹⁵ A meta-analysis of data from RCTs of augmentation therapy (EXACTLE and RAPID) indicates a small non-significant difference in favor of treatment.⁹⁰ For studies to determine the impact on quality of life, longer evaluations on larger sample sizes are required, which can be difficult to achieve in studies on rare diseases.⁹⁶ Patient registries may be the answer to obtaining data on quality of life as they can recruit much larger numbers of patients and follow them for many years.⁹⁶

What is the ideal route or dose of therapy with AAT?

There is growing interest in the inhaled route of AAT administration as initial studies showed that more AAT reaches the lungs via inhalation than through the IV route (14.6% versus 2%, respectively).⁹⁷ Advantages of inhaled AAT include convenience for patients to self-administer, lower cost, and avoiding risks associated with IV administration such as thrombosis and infection.⁹⁸ The safety and efficacy of inhaled AAT was recently investigated in a large study in which 168 patients were randomized to receive twice-daily inhalations of 80 mg AAT or placebo for a total period of 50 weeks.⁹⁹ The study reported no significant difference between treatment groups for time to the first event-based exacerbation or mean rate of annual exacerbations (3.12 in treated patients and 2.67 in controls; p = 0.31).⁹⁹ However, a post hoc analysis revealed that patients treated with inhaled AAT experienced a significantly lower decline in FEV₁ compared with controls. Over the 50-week study period, the difference in FEV₁ decline between the two groups was 48 mL/year (unpublished data).¹⁰⁰ However, due to the route of administration, it is not clear whether the observed difference in FEV₁ decline is due to a bronchodilator effect. In terms of safety, while more patients treated with inhaled AAT experienced adverse events (AEs) (57.5% versus 46.9%) and serious AEs (6.9% versus 0%) during the entire study compared with placebo, an improvement in the safety profile was observed after changes were made to the handling of the nebulizer device.⁹⁹ Although the results from this study are mixed, they point toward a potential beneficial effect on lung function that warrants verification in a carefully designed follow-up study.

In recent years there has been a focus on other ways of improving patient quality of life, largely through patient-centric initiatives to improve the convenience of IV augmentation therapy infusions through self-administration and extended-interval dosing.⁹⁶ The standard dose of 60 mg/kg AAT per week aims to achieve a target serum AAT concentration of >11 µM;⁵⁶ the putative target threshold. However, variations to the typical weekly dosing schedule appear to be common; for example, some patients in the RAPID study received 120 mg/kg every other week and dosing in the Danish–Dutch trial was 250 mg/kg every 4 weeks.^65,101 These biweekly and monthly dosing intervals have been shown to result in trough serum AAT concentrations slightly below the 11 µM target threshold for augmentation therapy,^102,103 and therefore, fixed weekly dosing should be recommended unless other dosing scenarios are absolutely necessary.

Whether the standard recommended dose of 60 mg/kg is most adequate remains unclear, as some patients on the standard dose can still exhibit residual inflammation, protease activity, and elastin degradation which can be further mitigated by increasing the treatment dose.⁷⁸ Pharmacometric analysis of data from the RAPID trials has suggested that increasing serum levels above the 11 µM threshold is associated with greater clinical effect;^56,104 a finding that was supported by a recent pilot study, which observed significant improvements in multiple markers of disease activity in patients up-titrated from 60 to 120 mg/kg AAT per week.⁷⁸ Increasing the dose to 120 mg/kg per week was also well tolerated and restored serum AAT levels to be more in line with the normal range (>25 µM). However, the long-term benefit of increased dosing requires further investigation in a larger cohort of patients; the clinical efficacy of higher dosing will be addressed by post-marketing studies of augmentation therapy as requested by regulatory agencies, which will investigate the efficacy of 60 versus 120 mg/kg weekly dosing.^56,105

Summary of augmentation therapy

In summary, the available data support the conclusion that augmentation therapy improves anti-protease balance, reduces elastin degradation products, and reduces lung density decline in patients with AATD. Moreover, augmentation therapy appears to show some survival benefit and slow FEV₁ decline in patients presenting with an FEV₁ in the range 30−60% predicted, although this effect may be related to limitations of FEV₁ as an outcome measure. Further beneficial effects may be noted with different administration routes or dosing aimed at normalizing serum AAT levels. Although the treatment does not appear to have a clear effect on frequency of exacerbations, it may help reduce the severity of exacerbations. AAT also appears to have anti-inflammatory effects that are applicable to AATD in addition to a wider range of clinical areas; however, this has yet to be demonstrated in a large-scale human study. With current evidence, augmentation therapy is indicated only in patients with severe AAT deficiency (serum AAT <11 µM) with evidence of lung impairments (emphysema and FEV₁ ⩽65%).

Who benefits from augmentation therapy?

Augmentation therapy is currently recommended only for patients with severe AATD genotypes, for example, PI*ZZ (European and US guidelines) and PI*SZ (US guidelines only), or those with an FEV₁ ⩽65%, as there is well-documented benefit in these patients.^{2,3,10,106–108} For patients with mild AATD genotypes (e.g. PI*MZ and those with a FEV₁ >65%), augmentation therapy is not recommended as there is a lack of evidence for benefit in these patients.^10,109,110 Augmentation therapy is also not recommended for patients that continue to smoke, or in patients that have had a liver transplantation.¹⁰ Clinical guidelines are less clear for individuals where the clinical significance of their AATD genotype is unclear or variable (e.g. PI*SS). For patients with AATD that do not meet the criteria for augmentation therapy, there are many new therapeutic technologies being investigated, which are discussed in more detail within the chapter on research and emerging treatment strategies.^111,112

Conclusions

Most pharmacological and non-pharmacological management methods for COPD do not have direct evidence for efficacy in AATD, but this should not necessarily preclude use of these interventions. Only smoking cessation and disease-specific disease management programs are supported by good evidence for benefit in AATD specifically. AAT augmentation therapy is currently the only treatment with an established disease-modifying effect in patients with AATD, as evidenced in clinical studies with robust data and outcomes. Based upon the information provided within this chapter, an algorithm for the treatment of AATD has been proposed (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

AATD treatment algorithm.

AATD, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ELVR, endobronchial lung volume reduction; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting beta-2 agonists; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonists; LVRS, lung volume reduction surgery; NAC, N-acetylcysteine; PDE4, phosphodiesterase type 4; SABA, short-acting beta-2 agonists; SAMA, short-acting muscarinic antagonists.