Improving Detection of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Role of the Allergist.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder that manifests as lung and/or liver disease. Because symptoms of AATD overlap with those of common pulmonary and hepatic conditions, AATD is often misdiagnosed, which has resulted in substantial underdiagnosis of AATD worldwide. Although screening patients for AATD is recommended, the lack of procedures to facilitate testing remains a barrier to accurate diagnosis of AATD. Delays in AATD diagnosis can worsen outcomes for patients by postponing appropriate disease-modifying treatments. Patients with AATD-related lung disease experience symptoms similar to other obstructive lung disorders and are often misdiagnosed for years. In addition to existing screening guidelines, we recommend that screening for AATD become a standard part of allergists' workups of patients with asthma and fixed obstructive disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis without known origin, and patients under consideration for treatment with biologics. This Rostrum article reviews screening and diagnostic tests available in the United States and emphasizes evidence-based strategies to increase testing frequency and improve AATD detection rates. We underscore the pivotal role of allergists in managing care for patients with AATD. Finally, we urge health care providers to be aware of potentially poor clinical outcomes among patients with AATD during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Optimization of the allergen classification of the International Classification Of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of triggers or causative allergens is essential for appropriate risk assessment, providing correct advice to patients with allergy and their caregivers and personalized treatment. However, allergens have never been represented in the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases (ICD). OBJECTIVE: In this article, we present the process of selection of allergens to better fit the ICD, 11th Revision (ICD-11) structure and the outcomes of this process. METHODS: The Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes database, containing 1444 allergens, was used as the basis for the selection process. Two independent experts were responsible for the first selection of the allergens according to specific technical criteria. The second step of the selection process was based on real-life relevance of the allergens according to the frequency of requests regarding each of them. RESULTS: We selected 1109 allergens (76.8%) from all 1444 present in the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes database, with considerable agreement between experts (Cohen κ = 8.6). After assessment of real-life data, 297 additional relevant allergens worldwide were selected and grouped as plants (36.4%), drugs (32.6%), animal proteins (21%), mold and other microorganisms (1.5%), occupational allergens (0.4%), and miscellaneous allergens (0.5%). CONCLUSION: The stepwise approach allowed us to select the most relevant allergens in practice, which is the first step to building a classification of allergens for the WHO ICD-11. Aligned with the achievement in the construction of the pioneer section addressed to the allergic and hypersensitivity conditions in the ICD-11, the introduction of a classification for allergens can be considered timely and much needed in clinical practice.