A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis treated with whole lung lavage

• DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.120327
• Publication Date: 2013-10-24T05:27:35Z
• Authors: Avdhesh Bansal; Vikas Sikri
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Case Report; 3. Good health

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis represents a rare syndrome characterized by the accumulation of proteinaceous phospholipid-laden material in the alveoli. This leads to impaired gas exchange and arterial hypoxemia of varying degrees. The diagnosis is confirmed by lung biopsy. Sequential whole-lung lavage (WLL) first described in 1963 is the standard of care. We report a case of a male diagnosed of having pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) on transbroncial lung biopsy (TBLB). He was treated with sequential WLL (Left followed by right, Left being more involved on chest X-ray) followed by recombinant GM-CSF, with good result.