Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP) in clinic.Methods A retrospective analysis of 8 cases diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP)by pathological examinations from May 2003 to May 2007 was made.Results Six patients receiving bronchoalveolar lavage had significant improvement in clinical manifestation,artery blood gas analysis and chest CT scan.Conclusion The chief clinical manifestation is progressive dyspnea,breathlessness and cough.Chest CT scanning shows that ground glass shadow,patch shadow and reticular shadow are map-liked located in both lung fields.The diagnosis should be made with pathological evidences.So far,bronchoalveolar lavage is the only effective treatment for PAP.