Final answer:
Panacinar emphysema affects the alveoli, leading to reduced elasticity and impaired gas exchange. The condition is exacerbated by α₁ antitrypsin deficiency, which allows elastase to destroy alveolar walls, resulting in breathlessness and reduced respiratory function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Panacinar emphysema, a type of emphysema, predominantly affects the alveoli in the lungs. The alveoli are tiny air sacs where gas exchange takes place. In a normal lung, these structures are elastic, allowing for efficient expansion and recoil during the breathing process. However, in panacinar emphysema, the alveoli are damaged, losing their elasticity due to the destruction of the elastin by elastase, an enzyme produced by neutrophils.
In the presence of α₁ antitrypsin deficiency, unopposed action of neutrophil elastase leads to more pronounced destruction of alveolar walls. This results in large, ineffective air spaces and compromised gas exchange, which can manifest as breathlessness and reduced respiratory function. This loss of structural integrity in the alveoli impairs the mechanics of breathing, making it difficult for the individual to exhale comfortably.
A respiratory infection like pneumonia exacerbates the situation by causing inflammation and fluid buildup in the alveoli, further hindering the already compromised gas exchange. If a smoker develops damage to several alveoli, the surface area available for gas exchange is reduced, leading to hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide in the blood).