A 47-year-old guy visits the clinic because his shortness of breath has gotten worse over a period of time. The patient does not have a cough, fever, or weight loss. He does not use any drugs and has no further medical issues. The patient does not consume alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal substances. The vital indicators are typical. An examination of the lungs reveals wheezing and inadequate airflow. The following are the laboratory findings: A liver biopsy is subsequently performed. Light microscopy of the tissue specimen after treatment with diastase and periodic acid-Schiff staining is shown in the exhibit. Given these findings, which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's shortness of breath?

Question

A 47-year-old guy visits the clinic because his shortness of breath has gotten worse over a period of time. The patient does not have a cough, fever, or weight loss. He does not use any drugs and has no further medical issues. The patient does not consume alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal substances. The vital indicators are typical. An examination of the lungs reveals wheezing and inadequate airflow. The following are the laboratory findings:  A liver biopsy is subsequently performed.  Light microscopy of the tissue specimen after treatment with diastase and periodic acid-Schiff staining is shown in the exhibit.  Given these findings, which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's shortness of breath?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Neutrophil elastase is inhibited by the serum protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), which lessens tissue damage brought on by inflammation. On periodic acid-Schiff stain, AAT deficiency can be seen histologically as reddish-pink globules; these globules are composed of unsecreted, polymerized AAT in the periportal hepatocytes.

A 47-Year-Old Guy Visits the Clinic Because His Shortness of Breath