Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) has been recognized for almost half a century. At least three separate pathophysiologic mechanisms may lead to the characteristic feature of PAP: the excessive accumulation of surfactant lipoprotein in pulmonary alveoli, with associated disturbance of pulmonary gas exchange. The prognosis for adult patients with PAP varies, but disease-specific survival rate exceeds 80% at 5 years. The survival rates for adult PAP patients seem to have increased progressively in the four decades since the initial clinical description of this condition. The last decade has brought new advances in laboratory and clinical research that are lifting a veil not only on PAP but also on general aspects of pulmonary surfactant biology and innate immune defense.
Intensive Care Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Presneill
Koh
K
Nakata
Yoshikazu
Y
Inoue
John F
JF
Seymour
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor