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.
The life expectancy for someone with emphysema depends on many factors. That said, emphysema is not typically diagnosed until there is 40 to 50 percent lung damage, which is stage 2 or 3 emphysema. Therefore, the prognosis of emphysema is not favorable.The average life expectancy for someone with emphysema is five years.hat said, emphysema is not typically diagnosed until there is 40 to 50 percent lung damage, which is stage 2 or 3 emphysema. Therefore, the prognosis of emphysema is not favorable. The average life expectancy for someone with emphysema is five years.