Hi Terri, WOW .. I was just looking for something else in my notes and found another thing .. keep in mind I was diagnosed I 2007 and have been trying to understand all this "stuff" ever since .. AND keeping track of it so I have reams of notes!! So here is the second reference I found:
[10] Patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency have been found to be particularly susceptible to bronchiectasis, for unknown reasons

Interesting!! Katherine

Hi Katherine. I think you misunderstood my Alpha-1 diagnosis. I am only a 'carrier' of this gene. They do not know why, but for some reason it is common for carriers to get lung disease too; even though they supposedly have enough protective protein levels. I am very familiar with the sites for Alpha-!, have read up on it for years. Need to to re-visit though in case new info has surfaced. I appreciate you looking into to though. Hope you are doing well.

Thanks Windwalker,, I thought the whole thing was interesting . that with Alpha-1 gene I was more susceptible to lung issues .. but my report said only if I was a smoker which I found interesting since I was NEVER a smoker and STILL got MAC! Go figure. I think there is a whole lot we do not understand about genes AND our bodies! Oh well .. we deal with what we are handed with a smile and good cheer .. right?! Hugs! Katherine

I think statistically more non smokers get MAC than smokers. Weird. I too never smoked Katherine. Irene