Report of a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with literature review

Objective To discuss the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP).Methods One case of PAP was analyzed and the recent literature was reviewed.Results PAP presented a protracted chronic clinical course,It was manifested as primary or secondary pathological changes.PAP was characterized by progressive dyspnea.Typical CT scan showed groundglass opacities and milky effluent from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).The microscopic characteristics of BALF from bronchoalveolar lavage of PAP indicated the alveolar space and terminal bronchioles almost completely filled with periodic Acid Schiff(PAS)—positive surfactant.Conclusion The manifestations of PAP is not specific,image examinations and diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavege are very useful and lung lavage especially whole lung lavage is effective.