Category

• Alpha ₁ -antitrypsin replenisher

Description

Alpha ₁ -proteinase (AL-fa wun PRO-teen-ayce) inhibitor (alpha ₁ -PI) is used to treat emphysema caused by the lack of a certain protein, alpha ₁ -antitrypsin, in the body. This medicine replaces the protein when the body does not produce enough by itself.

Alpha ₁ -PI is prepared from human blood received from many donors. Each donor's blood is tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus before it is used to prepare this medicine. Also, alpha ₁ -PI is treated with heat to reduce further the risk of transmission of virus infections. Other processes are also done to help make the alpha ₁ -PI more pure. However, no procedure has been found to be totally effective in removing viruses from blood products.

There have not been any reports of hepatitis developing in any patients receiving alpha ₁ -PI. Your doctor may want to vaccinate you with hepatitis B vaccine before you receive this medicine. In some cases, there may not be enough time for the vaccine to take effect before the alpha ₁ -PI is given. Therefore, you may be given hepatitis B immune globulin at the same time that you receive the hepatitis B vaccine.

Alpha ₁ -PI is given once a week. Your doctor may want you to receive this medicine regularly for a long time. However, it is not known what the effects of this medicine are when it is used regularly to treat emphysema caused by lack of alpha ₁ -antitrypsin. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Alpha ₁ -PI is administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Aralast
• Prolastin

In Canada—

• Prolastin

Another commonly used name is alpha ₁ -antitrypsin .