Mayor recognizes November as Alpha-1 Awareness

The following proclamation was made official at last night meeting of the Kennedale City Council by Mayor Brian Johnson.? Alpha-1, a common hereditary disorder, is widely under diagnosed or misdiagnosed. It can lead to severe liver disorders or lung disease. {{more: continue …}}

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Proclamation …?

WHEREAS, Alpha-l Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-I) is one of the most common hereditary disorders in the world and can result in life-threatening liver disease in children and adults or lung disease in adults; and?

WHEREAS, Alpha-I has been identified in virtually all populations, an estimated 100,000 children and adults in the U.S. have the severe deficiency. Researchers estimate there are at least 20 million carriers of the single gene detect in the U.S. that may pass it on to their children; and?

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WHEREAS, Alpha-1 is widely under diagnosed and misdiagnosed. Fewer than 10% of those predicted to have Alpha-I have been accurately diagnosed. It often takes an average of five doctors and seven years from the time symptoms first appear before proper diagnosis is made. However, Alpha-I is easily detected using a simple test; and?

WHEREAS, Alpha-I is the most commonly known genetic risk factor tor Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S., only behind heart disease and cancer. Lung clisease is the most frequent cause of disability and early death among affected Alphas, striking in the prime of life and a major reason for lung transplants. Alpha-I originates in the liver and can lead to liver failure at any time in life. It is the leading genetic cause of? liver transplantation in children. Currently, the only treatment tor liver disease of Alpha-I is a liver transplant; and?

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See complete proclamation at Kennedalecivicclerk

Find out more at What is alpha1??