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Published on: June 6, 2025
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with a disease-modifying antirheumatoid arthritis drug
Noel R Wardwell1, Robert Miller, Lorraine B Ware
1Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, T1218 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue Nashville, TN 37232-2650, USA.
Abstract:
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is an uncommon disorder marked by the abnormal accumulation of surfactant within the alveoli. Secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis develops in patients who are immunosuppressed, usually with corticosteroids. We present a case of biopsy-proven pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a patient undergoing therapy with the disease-modifying antirheumatoid arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava; Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, NJ). He was treated with whole lung lavage and discontinuation of leflunomide with good results. This is the first reported association of secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with leflunomide therapy. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis should be considered in patients with diffuse lung disease that develops while on disease-modifying antirheumatoid arthritis drug therapy.
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