A 24-year-old man with a 0.5 pack year smoking history presents with progressive dyspnea and cough. Pulmonary function tests show that he has prolonged expiratory time. Genetic analysis reveals that he has alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. What type of emphysema will this man develop?
Bullous emphysema
Centrilobular emphysema
Irregular emphysema
Panacinar emphysema
Paraseptal emphysema
Correct answer
Panacinar emphysema
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correct answer: D
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency is a hereditary disorder that results in defective secretion of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency by the liver. In homozygotes, this eventually results in panacinar emphysema (choice D) and hepatic cirrhosis by young adulthood.
Bullous emphysema (choice A), centrilobular emphysema (choice B), irregular emphysema (choice C), and paraseptal emphysema (choice E) are other patterns of emphysema not associated with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.