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Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Alveolar proteinosis

Treatment:

Treatment consists of periodically washing out the protein substance from the lung (whole-lung lavage). A lung transplant may be recommended for certain patients with this disease.

Expectations (prognosis):

Some people with this condition go into remission, while others develop progressive respiratory failure.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms. Progressively worsening shortness of breath may signal that your condition is developing into a more serious medical emergency.

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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