α₁-Antitrypsin deficiency: molecular and clinical news

Symposium
Chairs: R. A. Stockley (Birmingham, United Kingdom), R. Bals (Marburg, Germany)
Aims: The biology of α₁-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) provides important insights into the genetics and development of COPD. Parallels between the two diseases are illustrated in several fields.

Quantitative computed tomography to study COPD D. Parr (Birmingham, United Kingdom)
Desmosin as a marker for tissue injury in COPD M. Luisetti (Pavia, Italy)