Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare condition characterized by dysfunctional alveolar macrophages, which ineffectively clear surfactant and typically cause mild hypoxemia. Characteristic Computed Tomography findings are septal reticulations superimposed on ground-glass opacities in a craz...

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Main Authors: Ryan R. Kroll, Sameer Kumar, Ronald F. Grossman, Charles Price, John R. Srigley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4064539
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author Ryan R. Kroll
Sameer Kumar
Ronald F. Grossman
Charles Price
John R. Srigley
author_facet Ryan R. Kroll
Sameer Kumar
Ronald F. Grossman
Charles Price
John R. Srigley
author_sort Ryan R. Kroll
collection DOAJ
description Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare condition characterized by dysfunctional alveolar macrophages, which ineffectively clear surfactant and typically cause mild hypoxemia. Characteristic Computed Tomography findings are septal reticulations superimposed on ground-glass opacities in a crazy paving pattern, with a clear juxtaposition between affected and unaffected parenchyma. While traditionally PAP was diagnosed via biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is usually sufficient; the fluid appears milky, and on microscopic examination there are foamy macrophages with eosinophilic granules and extracellular hyaline material that is Periodic Acid-Schiff positive. Standard therapy is whole lung lavage (WLL), although novel treatments are under development. The case presented is a 55-year-old woman with six months of progressive dyspnea, who developed hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation; she had typical findings of PAP on imaging and BAL. WLL was ultimately successful in restoring adequate oxygenation. Respiratory failure of this magnitude is a rare finding in PAP.
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spelling doaj-art-d648df5bb3f54c30a8d5572c20c2f4332025-08-20T02:19:40ZengWileyCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22411916-72452016-01-01201610.1155/2016/40645394064539Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory FailureRyan R. Kroll0Sameer Kumar1Ronald F. Grossman2Charles Price3John R. Srigley4Department of Internal Medicine, Queen’s University, Etherington Hall, Room 3033, 94 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, CanadaTrillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital Site, Mississauga, ON, L5M 2N1, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital Site, Mississauga, ON, L5M 2N1, CanadaTrillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital Site, Mississauga, ON, L5M 2N1, CanadaLaboratory Medicine and Genetics Program, Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital Site, Mississauga, ON, L5M 2N1, CanadaPulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare condition characterized by dysfunctional alveolar macrophages, which ineffectively clear surfactant and typically cause mild hypoxemia. Characteristic Computed Tomography findings are septal reticulations superimposed on ground-glass opacities in a crazy paving pattern, with a clear juxtaposition between affected and unaffected parenchyma. While traditionally PAP was diagnosed via biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is usually sufficient; the fluid appears milky, and on microscopic examination there are foamy macrophages with eosinophilic granules and extracellular hyaline material that is Periodic Acid-Schiff positive. Standard therapy is whole lung lavage (WLL), although novel treatments are under development. The case presented is a 55-year-old woman with six months of progressive dyspnea, who developed hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation; she had typical findings of PAP on imaging and BAL. WLL was ultimately successful in restoring adequate oxygenation. Respiratory failure of this magnitude is a rare finding in PAP.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4064539
spellingShingle Ryan R. Kroll
Sameer Kumar
Ronald F. Grossman
Charles Price
John R. Srigley
Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
Canadian Respiratory Journal
title Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
title_full Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
title_fullStr Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
title_full_unstemmed Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
title_short Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Causing Acute Respiratory Failure
title_sort rare presentation of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis causing acute respiratory failure
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4064539
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