The electrophoretic pattern indicating a marked decrease in α1-globulin likely suggests which deficiency?

A marked decrease in α1-globulin on an electrophoretic pattern strongly indicates α1-antitrypsin deficiency. α1-antitrypsin is a protein produced by the liver that plays a critical role in inhibiting proteolytic enzymes, particularly elastase, which can damage tissues, particularly in the lungs and liver. When there is a deficiency or dysfunction of this protein, it leads to various clinical manifestations such as lung diseases (like emphysema) and liver diseases (like cirrhosis).

The electrophoresis results will show a notable reduction in the α1-globulin fraction compared to the other globulin fractions, which is a hallmark finding in individuals with this deficiency. This condition is an inherited disorder and knowing the electrophoretic pattern helps in early diagnosis and management of the associated complications.

Other conditions may affect the overall globulin levels but do not specifically lead to the pronounced decrease in α1-globulin seen in α1-antitrypsin deficiency. For example, infections may lead to the overall elevation of certain globulins but would not specifically decrease α1-globulin levels. Nephrosis could affect protein levels variably, and systemic sclerosis often influences the total protein but