A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis treated with whole lung lavage

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis represents a rare syndrome characterized by the accumulation of proteinaceous phospholipid-laden material in the alveoli. This leads to impaired gas exchange and arterial hypoxemia of varying degrees. The diagnosis is confirmed by lung biopsy. Sequential whole-lung lavage (WLL) first described in 1963 is the standard of care. We report a case of a male diagnosed of having pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) on transbroncial lung biopsy (TBLB). He was treated with sequential WLL (Left followed by right, Left being more involved on chest X-ray) followed by recombinant GM-CSF, with good result.