Ilaria Ferrarotti

TL;DR: Treatment of A1ATD-associated lung disease includes standard therapies that are also used for the treatment of COPD, in addition to the use of augmentation therapy (that is, infusions of human plasma-derived, purified α1-antitrypsin).

TL;DR: It is crucial to organise national and international registries and collect information prospectively about the natural history of the disease, as AATD is a rare disease and inequalities in access to therapies across Europe should be addressed.

TL;DR: A suggestion for a population-based ‘protective threshold’ of AAT serum level, used in decision-making for replacement therapy; more precise ranges framing the intermediate AAT deficiency area, a potential target for future primary prevention are suggested.

TL;DR: In the authors' opinion, mesenchymal stem cell secretome could offer a new therapeutic approach in treating COVID-19 pneumonia, due to the broad pharmacological effects it shows, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, regenerative, pro-angiogenic and anti-fibrotic properties.

TL;DR: The developments in diagnostic techniques that have taken place in recent years are reviewed, and the practices used in three European centres are described, with the objectives of improving the efficiency of the diagnosis of severe α1-AT deficiency, increasing the numbers of individuals who are detected with the disorder, and assisting the establishment of new patient identification programmes.