A patient with the MZ alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) phenotype is at increased risk for chronic liver disease.
Forms of liver disease that may become chronic and progress to cirrhosis in patients with the MZ phenotype:
(1) nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
(2) alcoholic hepatitis
(3) autoimmune hepatitis
(4) chronic active viral hepatitis
(5) methotrexate-induced liver disease
(6) cryptogenic liver disease
Complications of the chronic liver disease:
(1) hepatic failure
(2) hepatocellular carcinoma
Significance:
(1) A person who develops unexplained chronic liver disease should be phenotyped for alpha-1 antitrypsin.
(2) A patient with the MZ phenotype should not be exposed to potentially hepatotoxic drugs or chemicals.
(3) A patient with the MZ phenotype who develops nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) should aggressively try to reverse the metabolic factors.
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Specialty: Endocrinology, Clinical Laboratory, Gastroenterology
ICD-10: ,
