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Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Alveolar proteinosis

Symptoms:

There may be no symptoms.

Signs and tests:

The doctor may hear crackles in the lungs. Often, the physical examination is normal.

Tests may reveal the following problems:

Chest x-ray may show dense shadows similar to fluid build-up in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
Arterial blood gases test may reveal low oxygen levels in the blood.
Pulmonary function tests may show restrictive lung disease and abnormal diffusion.
High-resolution CT scan of the chest may show dense infiltrates in both lungs.
Bronchoscopy with saline wash of the lungs (lavage) may show a milky fluid.

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 3/1/2007
David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Murray JF, Nadel, JA. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005.

Presneill JJ, Nakata K, Inoue Y, Seymour JF. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Clin Chest Med. September 2004; 25:593-613.

Tamul PC, Peruzzi WT. Assessment and management of patients with pulmonary disease. Crit Care Med. April 2004; 32:S137-S145.

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