ObjectiveTo improve the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP).
MethodsThe clinical data of 34 PAP cases diagnosed between May 2008 and June 2015 in Hunan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases were retrospectively analyzed.
ResultsThere were 34(52.9%)patients with a history of dust exposure. Cough and progressive dyspnea were common clinical symptoms. The incidence rate of hypoxemia and lung function damage was 87.9% and 90.9%,respectively. High resolution CT clearly demonstrated the characteristic map-like changing and paving-stone sign. Arterial blood oxygen partial pressure increased from (62.5±12.9)mm Hg to (73.0±12.2)mm Hg,and DLCO%pred increased from (50.1±14.9)% to (64.6±14.4)% after large-volume whole lung lavage. The recurrence rate was 38.2%.
ConclusionThe etiology of PAP is unknown,dust exposure may be associated with secondary PAP. The effect of whole lung lavage is remarkable but the recurrence rate is high. It is needed to study further on etiological treatment of PAP.
