Screening for alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency in Lithuanian patients with COPD

The OR for each genotypic class demonstrated a significant increase of MZ, SZ and ZZ genotypes in COPD patients. The results of the present study, with a significant number of ZZ individuals detected, support the general concept of targeted screening for AAT deficiency in countries like Lithuania, with a large population of COPD patients and low awareness among care-givers about this genetic condition.