Question

A 24-year-old male presents with emphysema. He has never smoked and does not get much exposure to secondhand smoke. What is the name of the hereditary disease that may be responsible for his emphysema?

A. Intrinsic asthma
B. 1-Antitrypsin deficiency
C. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
D. Pulmonary fibrosis

Answer 1

1-Antitrypsin deficiency is the hereditary disease likely responsible for a young non-smoking male's emphysema, due to insufficient production of the protease inhibitor that usually protects the lungs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The hereditary disease that may be responsible for a 24-year-old male presenting with emphysema, despite having never smoked or been significantly exposed to secondhand smoke, is 1-Antitrypsin deficiency (Option B). 1-Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic condition that impairs the body's ability to produce the protease inhibitor α1-antitrypsin, which protects the lung tissue from damage caused by enzymes such as neutrophil elastase. Without sufficient levels of α1-antitrypsin, an individual's risk of developing emphysema substantially increases, even without the risk factors of tobacco smoke exposure.