Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and aluminum dust exposure.
A 44-yr-old male presented with shortness of breath, diffuse X-ray infiltrates, and physiologic evidence of a restrictive lung disease. Biopsy revealed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The patient had worked for the previous 6 yr as an aluminum rail grinder in a very dusty environment. Analysis of his lung tissue revealed greater than 300 X 10(6) particles of aluminum/g dry lung; all of the particles appeared as spheres of less than 1 mu diameter. We believe that this case represents an example of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis induced by inhalation of aluminum particles; this finding confirms animal studies which suggest that proteinosis can be produced by very large doses of many types of finely divided mineral dust.
D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D004391:Dust; D000535:Aluminum