When my boyfriend and I were double checking the doctor's diagnosis we found the chart and the whole article pretty helpful. Looks like your test result put you on the unsure what it is leaf, but if you read the article there is more information. http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0815/p623.html. Good luck.
Emphysema caused by genetic factors rather than smoking. Emphysema is lung damage which is mostly caused by ... more 1  Â». Familial emphysema: A rare genetic form of emphysema caused by a deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) which results in destruction of the elastin component of the lung structure.2  The disorder tends to run in families (familial).revalance of Familial emphysema: number of Americans with this genetic deficiency is quite small, probably no more than 70,000. It is estimated that 1 in 3,000 newborns have a genetic deficiency of AAT, and 1 to 3 percent of all cases of emphysema are due to AAT deficiency.
Emphysema gradually damages the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, making you progressively more short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known collectively as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema.Your lungs' alveoli are clustered like bunches of grapes. In emphysema, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and eventually rupture â creating one larger air space instead of many small ones.This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.our lungs' alveoli are clustered like bunches of grapes. In emphysema, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and eventually rupture â creating one larger air space instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.